acclimate

verb

ac·​cli·​mate ˈa-klə-ˌmāt How to pronounce acclimate (audio)
ə-ˈklī-mət, 
-ˌmāt How to pronounce acclimate (audio)
acclimated; acclimating
Synonyms of acclimate

transitive verb

: to adapt (someone) to a new temperature, altitude, climate, environment, or situation : acclimatize
They had to acclimate themselves to an urban lifestyle.
slowly becoming acclimated to a new environment

intransitive verb

: to adjust or adapt to a new temperature, climate, environment, or situation : to become acclimated : acclimatize
climbers gradually acclimating to the high altitude

Synonyms of acclimate

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Examples of acclimate in a Sentence

I acclimated myself to the hot weather. You might need to acclimate your plants to bright sunlight gradually. We took a few days to get acclimated to our new teacher.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With redshirts no longer a concern, Riley had promised to acclimate as many young players as possible. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 The upcoming 17-day FIBA break could be an opportunity for a new player to acclimate to Hammon’s system in Las Vegas. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026 The two had spent a few days in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu to acclimate to the higher altitude of the Himalayas, before continuing north toward the Chinese border with a tour group. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 After three weeks of acclimating to the South Florida heat and installing new schemes, the focus has shifted toward preparation for its season opener, when the Panthers travel to Tampa to face the USF Bulls. — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acclimate

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French acclimater, from a-, prefix forming transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + climat "climate" (going back to Old French) — more at climate

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of acclimate was in 1792

Rhymes for acclimate

See All Rhymes for acclimate

Browse Nearby Words

acclimatation
acclimate
acclimated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acclimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acclimate. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

acclimate

verb
ac·​cli·​mate ˈak-lə-ˌmāt How to pronounce acclimate (audio) ə-ˈklī-mət How to pronounce acclimate (audio)
-ˌmāt
acclimated; acclimating
: to adapt to a new climate, environment, or situation
acclimation
ˌak-lə-ˈmā-shən, 
ˌak-ˌlī-
noun

Medical Definition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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