An adjustment is a change you make to improve how something works or fits. When you ride a bike with the seat too low, you make an adjustment by raising it to the right height. When a recipe calls for too much salt, a cook makes an adjustment by using less next time.

The word often suggests fixing something that's close but not quite right. A pianist might make small adjustments to how she sits at the bench to play more comfortably. A basketball player adjusts his shooting form after noticing the ball keeps hitting the rim instead of going through cleanly.

Adjustment also describes the process of getting used to something new. When you start at a new school, there's an adjustment period while you learn where your classes are, figure out the routines, and make new friends. Some adjustments happen quickly, like getting used to a new desk in your classroom. Others take longer, like adjusting to living in a different country where people speak a different language.

The ability to make adjustments matters. Students who can adjust their study methods when something isn't working tend to succeed. Athletes who adjust their strategy mid-game often win. Life rarely goes exactly as planned, so learning to make good adjustments turns obstacles into opportunities.