adapts

Adapts is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb adapt. It describes the act of modifying or adjusting something to fit new conditions, purposes, or environments. A subject such as a person, a company, a device, or a organism can adapt.

Etymology: Adapt originates from the French adapter, from Late Latin adaptare, itself from Latin aptus meaning “fit.” The form adapts follows standard English conjugation for the verb in the present tense with he, she, or it as the subject.

Usage and sense: The verb can refer to biological, technological, social, or personal adjustments. In biology, adaptation refers to genetic or developmental changes that improve survival, while in common usage, to adapt means to adjust to new circumstances or requirements. The sense often implies intentional or gradual change rather than a single action. Examples of the present-tense form include: a company adapts its product line to changing consumer demand; a software program adapts to user behavior; an animal adapts to a drought by altering its foraging patterns.

Related terms and spelling: The related noun is adaptation, and adjectives include adaptable and adaptability. A variant spelling adaption exists but is less common and sometimes considered less preferred in technical writing. The verb forms without the final s (adapt) or with -ing (adapting) and the past tense (adapted) are closely connected to adapts in usage and meaning. See also adaptation, adaptable, adaptability.