This verb describes changing something slightly or becoming used to a situation.

The idea

Use adjust with a thing changed, or adjust to with a situation or an action in the -ing form.

Examples

  • Please adjust the lamp before you read.
  • The chef adjusted the oven temperature.
  • We adjusted the straps on our bags.
  • It took a week to adjust to the new schedule.
  • The plants adjusted to the cooler room.
  • She adjusted to working from home.

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Watch out

Do not omit to when describing what someone becomes used to: adjust to a schedule, not adjust a schedule in that meaning.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct form. Please ___ the screen brightness. (adjust / adjust to)

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    adjust

    Adjust takes the brightness directly as its object.

  2. Choose the correct form. The children adjusted ___ their new school. (to / at)

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    to

    To introduces the new school as the situation.

  3. Choose the correct form. He adjusted to ___ at night. (working / work)

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    working

    Working names the activity after the preposition.

Use it today

Describe a setting you changed and a situation you became used to.