Question 1

What does "adopt out" mean?

Accepted Answer

To arrange for a child to be permanently placed with an adoptive family.

Question 2

How do you use "adopt out" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

Unable to care for the newborn, she made the difficult decision to adopt him out.

Question 3

Is "adopt out" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"adopt out" is register-neutral — appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. Commonly used in social work, animal rescue, and legal contexts. More common in North American English. Often used in passive: 'the baby was adopted out'. Also used for animal rescue organisations placing animals with new owners.

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