to change or update something to suit a new situation
example
Getting involved in cultural activities and learning the language are two important things in order to adjust to living in a new country.
synonyms
adaptaccomodateaccustom
word origin — early 17th century (in the senses ‘harmonize discrepancies’ and ‘assess loss or damages’): from obsolete French adjuster, from Old French ajoster ‘to approximate’, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + juxta ‘near’
Advanced — Set 88
Set 88 of Advanced covers 5 words: adjust, comfort, operate, abolish, enforce. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
adjust · verb/əˈdʒəst/
to change or update something to suit a new situation
Getting involved in cultural activities and learning the language are two important things in order to adjust to living in a new country.
Synonyms: adapt, accomodate, accustom
Origin: early 17th century (in the senses ‘harmonize discrepancies’ and ‘assess loss or damages’): from obsolete French adjuster, from Old French ajoster ‘to approximate’, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ + juxta ‘near’
comfort · verb/ˈkəmfərt/
to make a person feel happier or relieved by telling them soothing things
After a person loses a loved one like a spouse or a family member, it's important for their friends to comfort them by showing that they are there whenever needed.
Synonyms: relieve, sooth, assure
Origin: Middle English (as a noun, in the senses ‘strengthening, support, consolation’; as a verb, in the senses ‘strengthen, give support, console’): from Old French confort (noun), conforter (verb), from late Latin confortare ‘strengthen’, from com- (expressing intensive force) + Latin fortis ‘strong’. The sense ‘something producing physical ease’ arose in the mid 17th century
operate · verb/ˈɑpəˌreɪt/
referring to the way that machines or businesses work; the method or process of doing something
Primary school students are starting to be offered courses where they can learn how to operate computers in general by becoming familiar with their systems.
Synonyms: perfom, function, act
Origin: early 17th century: from Latin operat- ‘done by labor’, from the verb operari, from opus, oper- ‘work’
abolish · verb/əˈbɑlɪʃ/
to end a law or a system officially
Bostwana, a landlocked country in Africa, is urged to abolish death penalty after their latest execution of a 44 year old man for murder.
Synonyms: put an end to, prohibit, terminate
Origin: late Middle English: from Old French aboliss-, lengthened stem of abolir, from Latin abolere ‘destroy’
enforce · verb/ɪnˈfɔrs/
to make people conform to a rule or law
It is difficult to enforce laws concerning spitting or littering as citizens of any country find them a nuisance to follow, and consider them unimportant.
Synonyms: impose, apply, implement
Origin: Middle English (in the senses ‘strive’ and ‘impel by force’; formerly also as inforce): from Old French enforcir, enforcier, based on Latin in- ‘in’ + fortis ‘strong’