assimilate

American  

[uh-sim-uh-leyt, uh-sim-uh-lit, -leyt] / əˈsɪm əˌleɪt, əˈsɪm ə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

assimilated, assimilating

1. to take in and incorporate as one's own; absorb.

   He assimilated many new experiences on his European trip.

2. to bring into conformity with the customs, attitudes, etc., of a dominant social group, nation, or the like; adapt or adjust.

   to assimilate the new immigrants.

3. Physiology. to convert (food) to substances suitable for incorporation into the body and its tissues.

4. to cause to resemble (usually followed by to orwith ).

5. to compare; liken (usually followed by to orwith ).

6. Phonetics. to modify by assimilation.

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verb (used without object)

assimilated, assimilating

1. to be or become absorbed.

2. to conform or adjust to the customs, attitudes, etc., of a dominant social group, nation, or the like.

   The new arrivals assimilated easily and quickly.

3. Physiology. (of food) to be converted into the substance of the body; be absorbed into the system.

4. to bear a resemblance (usually followed by to orwith ).

5. Phonetics. to become modified by assimilation.

noun

1. something that is assimilated.

assimilate British  

/ əˈsɪmɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to learn (information, a procedure, etc) and understand it thoroughly

2. (tr) to absorb (food) and incorporate it into the body tissues

3. (intr) to become absorbed, incorporated, or learned and understood

4. to bring or come into harmony; adjust or become adjusted

   the new immigrants assimilated easily

5. to become or cause to become similar

6. (usually foll by to) phonetics to change (a consonant) or (of a consonant) to be changed into another under the influence of one adjacent to it

   (n) often assimilates to ŋ before (k), as in ``include''

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Other Word Forms

• assimilable adjective
• assimilably adverb
• assimilation noun
• assimilative adjective
• assimilatively adverb
• assimilator noun
• nonassimilating adjective
• reassimilate verb
• unassimilated adjective
• unassimilating adjective
• well-assimilated adjective

Etymology

Origin of assimilate

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin assimilātus “likened to, made like” (past participle of assimilāre ), equivalent to as- as- + simil- ( similar ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The U.S. has a strong record of assimilating newcomers, from Asians in San Francisco to Irish in New York to Cubans in Miami, and birthright citizenship has been part of that story.

From The Wall Street Journal

But immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Latin America, India and Eastern Europe and their more assimilated children won’t have any problems relating to the generational conflicts at the heart of this gentle comedy.

From Los Angeles Times

The Freies Jüdisches Lehrhaus in Frankfurt was his attempt to open a way for assimilated Jews to re-enter Judaism without forfeiting the culture that had shaped them.

From The Wall Street Journal

For the Kim family, whose parents are immigrants to the United States, han is exacerbated by the pressure to assimilate alongside the impossibility of ever doing so.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s more important than ever to express yourself ... that you’re not assimilating, you’re not going to give up on your culture or your people’s history.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comprehend
• grasp
• incorporate
• understand