In　this　study,　ZIF8@MWCNT　nanocomposite　has　been　designed　throughout　in-situ　growth　of　zeolitic　imidazolate　framework-8　(ZIF8)　polyhedron　on　hydroxylated　multi-walled　carbon　nanotube　(MWCNT).　In　detail,　three　types　of　nanocomposites　harvesting　different　nanostructures　are　obtained　by　varying　the　dosages　of　MWCNTs.　Such　nanocomposites　are　assessed　as　phosphate　adsorbents　via　batch　experiments　to　determine　the　adsorption　capacity,　reusability　and　stability.　Among　the　three　types　of　composites,　the　ZIF8@MWCNT120　affords　the　maximum　phosphate　adsorption　capacity　of　203.0　mg　g(-1),　which　is　0.7-3.7　times　higher　than　those　of　the　other　adsorbents　at　the　same　adsorption　conditions.　Experimental　characterizations　in　combination　with　theoretical　calculations　reveal　that　the　outstanding　performance　of　ZIF8@MWCNT120　is　mainly　attributed　to　the　enhanced　Zn-O-P　interaction　and　hydrogen　bonding.　In　addition,　high　phosphate　removal　performance　was　observed　in　the　real　wastewater　(residual　effluent　Conc.=　0.0-0.45　mg　L-1)　with　initial　concentrations　of　0.63　mg　L-1-6.32　mg　L-1,　which　satisfied　the　A-level　standard　of　phosphate　effluent　in　China　(0.5　mg　L-1).　This　work　offers　a　versatile　solution　to　tailor　the　adsorption　affinity　of　emerging　metal-organic-frameworks　(MOFs)　toward　phosphorous-based　pollutants.