What is adjust? Pronunciation and usage in English

adjust means . Learn how to pronounce and use adjust through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of adjust

adjustverb

/əˈdʒʌst/
Definition & pronunciation of adjust

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "adjust" in English. Here's a breakdown:

Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • adj - pronounced like "adj" (as in, the letters A, J, and S) - a very short, clipped sound.
  • -ust - pronounced like "ust," rhyming with "must" or "dust."

Putting it together: "adj-ust" – It sounds like "ad-just". The emphasis is on the first syllable ("ad").

British English Pronunciation:

  • adj - pronounced similarly to American English - "adj"
  • -ust - pronounced like "us" (rhyming with "bus")

Putting it together: "adj-us" – It sounds like "ad-juss". The emphasis is on the first syllable ("ad").

Tips for Pronunciation:

  • Short "a" in "adj": Don’t say “ah” like in “apple.” It’s a very quick, light “a” sound.
  • Smooth transition: The key is to smoothly connect the “adj” and “ust” parts. Don’t pause noticeably between them.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Are you aiming for American or British English pronunciation?

Usage and examples with the word adjust in English

Let's break down how to use the word "adjust" in English. It's a really versatile word with a few different shades of meaning. Here's a breakdown of its common uses, with examples:

1. To Change Something Slightly:

  • Meaning: This is the most frequent use. It means to make a small alteration or correction to something to make it more suitable or comfortable.
  • Examples:
    • "Please adjust your tie." (Make it a bit looser)
    • "I need to adjust my glasses." (Change the position for clearer vision)
    • "Could you adjust the thermostat? It's too cold." (Lower the temperature slightly)
    • "Can you adjust the volume on the TV?" (Make it louder or quieter)
    • "Let's adjust our plans for tomorrow." (Make a small change to the schedule)

2. To Adapt or Modify to a New Situation:

  • Meaning: This refers to changing your behavior, attitude, or thinking to fit a new circumstance or environment.
  • Examples:
    • "I need to adjust to the new time zone." (Become used to the different hours)
    • "It takes time to adjust to a new job." (Get used to the tasks and workplace)
    • "She’s having trouble adjusting to her retirement." (Adapting to a life without work)
    • "You need to adjust your expectations." (Change what you hoped for to what's actually happening)

3. To Level or Align (Often with objects):

  • Meaning: To make something level, straight, or in a proper position.
  • Examples:
    • "He used a level to adjust the shelf." (Make it horizontal)
    • "The mechanic adjusted the car's wheels." (Align them properly)
    • "The pilot adjusted the aircraft's wings." (Correct the angle)

4. (More Formal) To Modify for Suitability:

  • Meaning: This is a slightly more formal way of saying "change." It implies a deliberate and reasoned alteration.
  • Examples:
    • "The company needs to adjust its marketing strategy." (Change the strategy to be more effective)
    • "We'll need to adjust our budget to account for the increased costs." (Modify the budget)

Phrases Using "Adjust":

  • Adjust to: (As in "adjust to the new job")
  • Adjust something for: (As in “adjust the seat for comfort”)
  • Make adjustments: (To perform a series of small changes – “Let’s make some adjustments to the presentation.”)

Tips for Using "Adjust" Correctly:

  • "Adjust" implies a small change. If you're making a significant alteration, words like "change," "modify," or "alter" might be better.
  • Context is key. The meaning of "adjust" will often be clear from the surrounding words.

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking about using "adjust" in? (e.g., talking about comfort, work, travel, etc.)

Synonyms for the word adjust

Idioms of the word adjust

kindly adjust
(Indian English)used to acknowledge and apologize for something that causes problems or difficulties and ask people to accept and adapt to the situation
  • The store will be closed this afternoon due to staffing shortages. Kindly adjust.

Practice with vocabulary adjust

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. After moving to a new country, it took her a few months to ______ to the cultural differences.
  2. The mechanic had to ______ the engine to improve its performance.
  3. She decided to ______ her schedule to make time for her new hobby.
  4. The company needs to ______ its budget to account for unexpected expenses.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. What does the team need to do to improve efficiency?
    a) adjust their workflow
    b) ignore the problems
    c) simplify the tasks
    d) cancel the project

  2. Which word means to make small changes to improve something?
    a) adapt
    b) adjust
    c) abandon
    d) replace

  3. What should you do if the settings on your computer are incorrect?
    a) adjust them
    b) ignore them
    c) delete them
    d) complain about them

  4. Which word is NOT a synonym of "change"?
    a) modify
    b) adjust
    c) maintain
    d) alter

  5. What is the best way to respond to unexpected challenges?
    a) adjust your plan
    b) stick to the original plan
    c) avoid the challenges
    d) give up entirely

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The teacher changed the lesson plan to accommodate the students' needs.
  2. He modified the design to meet the new requirements.
  3. They adapted their strategy to suit the market trends.

Answer:

Exercise 1:

  1. adjust
  2. tune
  3. adjust
  4. revise

Exercise 2:

  1. a) adjust their workflow
  2. b) adjust
  3. a) adjust them
  4. c) maintain
  5. a) adjust your plan

Exercise 3:

  1. The teacher adjusted the lesson plan to accommodate the students' needs.
  2. He adjusted the design to meet the new requirements.
  3. They changed their strategy to suit the market trends.

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