acclimate

American  

[ak-luh-meyt, uh-klahy-mit] / ˈæk ləˌmeɪt, əˈklaɪ mɪt /

verb (used with or without object)

acclimated, acclimating

1. to accustom or become accustomed to a new climate or environment; adapt.

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Other Word Forms

• acclimatable adjective
• acclimation noun
• reacclimate verb

Etymology

Origin of acclimate

From the French word acclimater, dating back to 1785–95; ac-, climate

Explanation

When you acclimate yourself to a situation, you become used to it. It usually means getting accustomed to a particular new climate, but it can also mean getting used to other situations, such as a new school. The word climate in the word acclimate should give you a clue as to the word's meaning: to get used to a specific climate. Nature allows the human body to acclimate itself to various weather conditions. For example, people moving to higher altitudes will develop more red blood cells in order to absorb oxygen better. This is their bodies' way of acclimating to the thinner air. It takes a while for the body to become acclimated to a new climate.

Example Sentences

He had yet to acclimate to his new neighborhood when he was arrested last year in a misunderstanding with the police.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

The sweltering temperatures are arriving months earlier than typical and communities have not had time to acclimate, making the early-season heat particularly dangerous, experts say.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

There are immediate issues, such as blocked noses, which impact virtually all astronauts as they acclimate to space.

From Slate • Mar. 1, 2026

After agreeing to work with Stolz, Corby didn’t bother trying to acclimate himself to the current training methodology.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

If I help him, I could end up riding the pine this season, and if I don’t help Boy21 acclimate to Bellmont, I’d be disobeying Coach for the first time in my life.

From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick

Related Words

• accustom