acclimate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
Other Word Forms
- acclimatable adjective
- acclimation noun
- reacclimate verb
Etymology
Origin of acclimate
From the French word acclimater, dating back to 1785–95; see 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.
Vocabulary lists containing acclimate
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A Polar "Vortex" and a "Mercurial" Basketball Star: Ten Words in the News You Need to Know
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The Last Lecture
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
There is a lot of turnover, because new hires who don’t acclimate don’t last long.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026
It’s just about maintaining visible resistance so people don’t slowly acclimate to this new environment.
From Slate • Nov. 6, 2025
The Spartans arrived in L.A. on Thursday to give them plenty of time to acclimate.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025
“We can worry about helping Adiah acclimate after we’ve gotten her back to normal again.”
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
