What does adjusting mean?
"Adjusting" is the present participle and gerund of the verb "adjust," meaning to change something slightly so that it fits better, works more accurately, or suits a particular purpose. It covers two broad kinds of action: physically or technically altering an object, figure, or system (adjusting a thermostat, adjusting accounts), and the more abstract process of adapting oneself to new circumstances (adjusting to a new city, a new role, or a loss). The word carries a connotation of fine-tuning rather than wholesale change — adjustments are typically small, incremental corrections made in pursuit of a better state. It appears constantly in everyday speech, technical writing, finance (where "adjusting for inflation" is standard usage), and psychology, where successful adjustment is considered a marker of resilience. Its root lies in the Latin iustus, meaning "just" or "exact," so to adjust is etymologically to make something just right.
verbThe present participle and gerund of the verb "adjust": to alter, move, or adapt something slightly in order to achieve a desired fit, condition, or result; or to become accustomed to new conditions.
- To change or move something slightly in order to make it more suitable, accurate, or effective (e.g. adjusting a dial, a plan, or a figure).
- To adapt or accustom oneself to new conditions or circumstances (e.g. adjusting to a new job or climate).
"She stood before the mirror, adjusting her collar before the interview."
"The accountant spent the afternoon adjusting the figures to account for last quarter's losses."
"After moving from Mumbai to Toronto, it took him nearly a year of adjusting before the winters felt bearable."
Every time you adjust something, you're quietly invoking the Latin word for "right" or "just" — adjusting literally means making things just right.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of adjusting
"Adjusting" derives from the verb "adjust," which entered English in the early 17th century from French ajuster, itself rooted in the Late Latin adiuxtare, formed from the Latin ad- ("to, toward") and iuxta ("near, close by"). The related Latin adjective iustus, meaning "just" or "exact," gave English words such as "just," "justice," and "justify," all sharing the underlying idea of correctness or exactness. Over time, "adjust" shifted from its original sense of bringing things into close contact or agreement toward the modern sense of regulating or fine-tuning.
Related word forms
How adjusting is actually used
"Adjusting" functions both as a progressive verb form ("she is adjusting") and as a gerund/noun-like form ("adjusting takes patience"). In accounting and scientific contexts, "adjusting for X" carries a technical sense of correcting data to account for a variable. The reflexive sense — "adjusting oneself" — is common but often shortened to just "adjusting" when the subject is clearly a person.
Easily confused with adjusting
"Adopting" means taking up or beginning to use something new, while "adjusting" means modifying or adapting something that already exists.