Acclimate: meaning, definitions and examples

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acclimate

 

[ ˈæklɪˌmeɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

weather

To become accustomed to a new climate or environment, typically through gradual exposure.

Synonyms

acclimatize, adapt, adjust.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
acclimate

Use when someone or something is getting used to a new climate, environment, or situation. Often used for new surroundings or weather conditions.

  • It took a few weeks to acclimate to the hot and humid climate of the tropics.
  • The new fish need time to acclimate to the temperature of the aquarium water.
adapt

This word is used when someone or something changes to fit a new purpose, environment, or situation. It has a broader context and can be applied to various scenarios including social, technological, or biological adjustments.

  • Businesses must adapt to the changing market conditions to stay competitive.
  • Over time, the species adapted to the harsh desert climate.
adjust

Used for making small changes or modifications to achieve a desired state or outcome. It often implies a finer level of change than 'adapt'.

  • She had to adjust the straps on her backpack for a better fit.
  • He quickly adjusted to the new work schedule.
acclimatize

Similar to 'acclimate', but more commonly used in British English. This word also focuses on becoming accustomed to a new climate or environment.

  • Mountaineers must acclimatize to high altitudes before attempting to reach the summit.
  • She found it difficult to acclimatize to the cold weather after moving from a tropical country.

Examples of usage

  • It took him a few weeks to acclimate to the hot and humid weather of the rainforest.
  • The plants need time to acclimate to the colder temperatures after being indoors all winter.
Context #2 | Verb

altitude

To adapt to a new altitude, especially in mountainous regions.

Synonyms

acclimatize, adjust, get used to.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
acclimate

Primarily used in American English, especially in formal or scientific contexts to describe people, animals, or plants becoming accustomed to a new climate or environment.

  • The laboratory mice need time to acclimate to the new temperature conditions.
  • It took me a few weeks to acclimate to the high altitude.
acclimatize

Commonly used in British English and scientific contexts, similar to 'acclimate', referring to the process of adjusting to a new climate or environment.

  • Mountaineers need to acclimatize to high altitudes before ascending further.
  • We must acclimatize the plants to the outdoor conditions gradually.
adjust

A versatile term that can be used in both formal and informal settings to describe making slight changes to adapt to a new situation or environment.

  • I need to adjust my chair for better comfort.
  • She quickly adjusted to her new role at the company.
get used to

Informal and commonly used in everyday language, referring to the process of becoming familiar with something new, often implying a gradual or challenging adjustment period.

  • It took me some time to get used to the new software.
  • He couldn't get used to the noise of the city.

Examples of usage

  • The climbers had to acclimate to the higher elevation before attempting to summit the mountain.
  • It's important to acclimate slowly to prevent altitude sickness.

Translations

Translations of the word "acclimate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 aclimatar

🇮🇳 अनुकूलित करना

🇩🇪 akklimatisieren

🇮🇩 beradaptasi

🇺🇦 акліматизуватися

🇵🇱 aklimatyzować się

🇯🇵 順応する (じゅんのうする)

🇫🇷 acclimater

🇪🇸 aclimatar

🇹🇷 alışmak

🇰🇷 적응하다 (jeogeunghada)

🇸🇦 تأقلم

🇨🇿 aklimatizovat se

🇸🇰 aklimatizovať sa

🇨🇳 适应 (shìyìng)

🇸🇮 aklimatizirati se

🇮🇸 aðlagast

🇰🇿 бейімделу

🇬🇪 აკლიმატიზაცია

🇦🇿 iqlimə alışmaq

🇲🇽 aclimatar

Etymology

The word 'acclimate' originated from the French word 'acclimater', which is derived from the Latin word 'ad' (to) and 'climare' (climate). The concept of acclimation has been studied in various fields, including biology, psychology, and sports science, to understand how organisms and individuals adjust to new environments and conditions.

See also: acclimatization, acclimatize, climatic, climatological, climatology.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,590, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.