🤝 To fit in 🌡️ To take in 🧠 To absorb knowledge 🔊 To change sound

to assimilate

1 7.4

Change to sound more like a nearby sound when speaking

verb
/əˈsɪməˌleɪt/

Specialized

: asimilar(se)

As children grow, they often assimilate the dialect and accents of their peers, making their speech sound more similar.

Examples

In order to receive the Eucharist properly, one does not explain the gift, but is assimilated into its movement in the performance of companionship and compassion.

Academic text (2001)
When learning a new language, it is common to assimilate sounds from native speakers to improve pronunciation.
Many learners assimilate the local accent after living in the area for a significant time, which helps them fit in better.

Antonyms

to dissimilate

Specialized

9.9

Become less similar in sound to make words easier to say

How Assimilated

to merge

172 3.2

to assimilate

Specialized

1 7.4

to alter

459 2.5

to remain

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

assimilate infinitive

assimilated past

assimilated past participle

assimilating present participle

assimilates third person singular

Etymology

Assimilate comes from the Latin parts ad- 'to' and similis 'like', the same root as similar. So when a sound 'assimilates' to a nearby sound, it changes to become more 'like' that sound in speech.