Improvise Adapt Overcome

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Published March 11, 2026

Also known as: IAO · Improvise Adapt Overcome Meme

Improvise Adapt Overcome is a popular internet meme format that emerged around 2018 and became recognized across internet circles.

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Overview

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome is a two-part image macro that pairs a screenshot of survivalist Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild with the subtitle "Improvise. Adapt. Overcome," a mantra long associated with the U.S. Marine Corps3. The top caption sets up a small, usually absurd inconvenience, and the Bear Grylls plus subtitle punchline reframes the trivial workaround as if it were a hardcore survival tactic.

The humor rides on scale mismatch: a Grylls-grade determination face applied to something like beating a child at Beyblades or watching porn ads instead of the video that failed to load1. Formats vary in caption length, but the image and subtitle stay locked in place, which is what makes any given post instantly readable as part of the Improvise. Adapt. Overcome series3.

Origin & Background

Platform
Internet/Reddit/Twitter
Creator
Community created
Date
2018-06

Emerged from internet culture as a recognizable meme format in 2018.

How It Spread

The Improvise Adapt Overcome meme spread across multiple platforms including Reddit, Twitter, TikTok, and Discord. It took off due to its relatability and versatility across different communities.

The meme's popularity reflected broader trends in internet culture and its ability to express common experiences. Communities continue to find new applications and contexts for this format.

Platforms

RedditTwitterTikTokDiscordInstagram
View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

To build one, start with the standard Bear Grylls screenshot with the "Improvise. Adapt. Overcome." subtitle already burned in, then add a top caption describing a petty problem and the dumb workaround for it. The joke typically lands hardest when the situation is low-stakes but the caption plays it like a survival scenario, matching the tone the r/dankmemes original set in 20173.

Create Your Own

Frequently Asked Questions