adopt out
C1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To arrange for a child or animal to go and live permanently with a new family.
Literal meaning: To send out (out of the family) through adoption.
Meanings
1 C1 neutral
To arrange for a child to be permanently placed with an adoptive family.
"Unable to care for the newborn, she made the difficult decision to adopt him out."
Grammar: separable
2 C1 neutral
To place an animal with a new permanent owner (used by shelters and rescue organisations).
"The shelter adopts out over 200 dogs every year."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Commonly used in social work, animal rescue, and legal contexts. More common in North American English. Often used in passive: 'the baby was adopted out'. Also used for animal rescue organisations placing animals with new owners.
Commonly used with
baby child infant animal puppy cat
Forms
Base
adopt out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
adopts out
he/she/it
Past simple
adopted out
yesterday
Past participle
adopted out
have + pp
-ing form
adopting out
continuous
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Synonyms
place for adoption give up for adoption rehome
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