adjust
/əˈdʒʌst
/verb
1 [with object] Alter or move (something) slightly in order to achieve the desired fit, appearance, or result: he smoothed his hair and adjusted his tie a single control adjusts the water flow...
- Furthermore, all analyses were statistically adjusted for intervention and control status.
- The seat height was adjusted for each individual before each test using a standardized method.
- The standard errors of the model estimates were adjusted for the clustering of patients within hospitals.
Synonyms
modify, alter, regulate, tune, fine-tune, calibrate, balance;
adapt, rearrange, change, rejig, rework, revamp, remodel, reshape, convert, transform, tailor, improve, enhance, customize;
repair, fix, correct, rectify, make good, put in working order, overhaul, put right, set right, set to rights, standardize, normalize
informal jigger, tweak, twiddle, patch up, see to
1.1 [no object] Permit small alterations or movements so as to achieve a desired fit, appearance, or result: a harness that adjusts to the correct fit...
- It continually adjusts to the owner's driving preferences, tuning itself to provide more power on demand for better fuel economy.
- Length is adjusted by loosening the knurled locking collar only a halt turn, after which the post adjusts to the desired height and is secured by another half turn of the locking collar.
- The handset is dominated by a 176 mm X 320 mm colour display screen that adjusts to the users' hand movements to allow for tilting, scrolling and zooming.
1.2 [no object] Adapt or become used to a new situation: she must be allowed to grieve and to adjust in her own way his eyes had adjusted to semi-darkness...
- By the time we got to the car I had already adjusted to my new situation.
- I am frankly filled with admiration at the way in which Australians have reacted and adjusted to this new situation.
- And Minnesotans seem adjusted to the taxes, calling their state high tax, high service.
Synonyms
adapt, become accustomed, get used, accommodate, acclimatize, attune, orient oneself, reconcile oneself, habituate oneself, assimilate, conform;
come to terms with, familiarize oneself with, acquaint oneself with, blend in with, fit in with, find one's feet in;
North American acclimate
2 [with object] Assess (loss or damages) when settling an insurance claim: the insurance agent may have the responsibility of adjusting small losses...
- We are aware that loss adjusting and economic damage calculation is not an exact science at all but as a relative indicator it can work very well.
- It ought not to have been and his claim should be adjusted accordingly.
- If serious wheat streak is suspected, growers must contact their insurance agent so fields can be adjusted.
Phrases
do not adjust your set
Derivatives
adjuster
/ noun ...- More than 35,000 insurance adjusters are working statewide handling more than 1-million claims filed from the first three storms.
- The front seats provide height adjusters as well as lumbar support and armrests on both sides.
- Did they send an adjuster out to look at your car?
Origin
Early 17th century (in the senses 'harmonize discrepancies' and 'assess loss or damages'): from obsolete French adjuster, from Old French ajoster 'to approximate', based on Latin ad- 'to' + juxta 'near'.
The notion of ‘bringing in close proximity’ is present in adjust. The source was the obsolete French verb adjuster, from Old French ajoster ‘to approximate’, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ and juxta ‘near’, source of words such as joust (Middle English) originally to ‘bring near to join battle’ and juxtapose (mid 19th century) ‘place near’.