choose or elect as a fellow member or colleague; The church members co-opted individuals from similar backgrounds to replenish the congregation'

neutralize or win over through assimilation into an established group; We co-opted the independent minority tribes by pulling them into the Northern Alliance'

appoint summarily or commandeer; The army tried to co-opt peasants into civil defence groups'

take or assume for one's own use; He co-opted the criticism and embraced it'