Adopt vs accept What's the difference between adopt and accept?

Maxim Kosmynin

Jul 8, 2017 3:56 AM

If you ADOPT a method, it means you begin to use this method.

For example:

“The company adopted the payment method ‘Paypal’ and now receives payments from its customers online.” This sentence means the company made a change to the way it receives payments, and began to use this new method of payment.

If you ACCEPT a method, you could again say that you use this method, however, this time the emphasis is on the fact that this method is valid and used in practical sense.

For example:

“Our company accepts debit and credit card payments.” This sentence means that the said payment methods can be used by the customers. The emphasis is on the fact that these payment methods are valid.

………………

It is not always possible to make a comparison between these two words (ADOPT and ACCEPT) as this makes no sense in certain contexts.

For example, you can say “I will accept this job offer,” meaning you had a job interview and the company has offered a position for you. Now you are saying that you will confirm that you want to work for this company.

However, you can’t say "I will adopt the job offer." It doesn’t make sense.

I hope this helps.

Yesim

July 8, 2017