Acquire means to obtain something, often through effort, learning, or a formal process.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Gain possession through effort or learning.
- Formal term for obtaining something.
- Used in business, education, and personal growth.
Overview
The word 'acquire' means to gain possession of something, whether it's a tangible item, an intangible skill, or knowledge. It suggests that the acquisition is not instantaneous but often involves some form of effort, learning, or a deliberate process.
Overview: At its core, 'acquire' signifies obtaining something that you didn't have before. This can range from acquiring a new language (learning it), acquiring a new skill (practicing it), acquiring a business (through purchase or merger), or acquiring knowledge (through study). It's a versatile verb that covers a broad spectrum of gaining and possessing.
Usage Patterns: 'Acquire' is generally considered a neutral to formal word. While it can be used in everyday conversation, it's more common in written English and in more formal spoken contexts like business meetings, academic discussions, or official reports. In informal settings, people might use simpler verbs like 'get' or 'learn.' For instance, instead of saying 'I want to acquire fluency in Spanish,' one might say 'I want to get fluent in Spanish.' However, 'acquire' lends a sense of purpose and effort to the act of obtaining.
**Common Contexts:**
- Work/Business: Companies acquire other companies, employees acquire new skills, and businesses acquire new clients or market share. This is a very frequent context for the word.
- Education/Learning: Students acquire knowledge from textbooks, teachers, and lectures. Learners acquire new languages, skills, or academic qualifications.
- Personal Development: Individuals might aim to acquire a new hobby, a physical asset like a car or a house, or personal qualities like patience or confidence.
Examples
It takes years to acquire mastery in a complex field.
academicIl faut des années pour acquérir la maîtrise dans un domaine complexe.
The company aims to acquire new customers through aggressive marketing.
businessL'entreprise vise à acquérir de nouveaux clients grâce à un marketing agressif.
Children naturally acquire language skills by listening and interacting.
daily lifeLes enfants acquièrent naturellement des compétences linguistiques en écoutant et en interagissant.
He managed to acquire a rare stamp for his collection.
formalIl a réussi à acquérir un timbre rare pour sa collection.
She wants to acquire a deeper understanding of the subject.
academicElle souhaite acquérir une compréhension plus approfondie du sujet.
Many people hope to acquire their own home someday.
daily lifeBeaucoup de gens espèrent acquérir leur propre maison un jour.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
acquire knowledge
acquérir des connaissances
acquire skills
acquérir des compétences
acquire a taste for
prendre goût à
Often Confused With
'Obtain' is a synonym and often interchangeable with 'acquire,' but 'acquire' can sometimes suggest a longer process or learning curve.
'Achieve' means to successfully reach a goal or complete something, often through effort. You can achieve a goal, but you acquire an object or skill.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
Use 'acquire' when emphasizing the process of gaining something, especially skills, knowledge, or significant assets. It is generally more formal than 'get' and implies a deliberate action or learning period.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'acquire' in very informal contexts where a simpler verb like 'get' would be more natural. Also, ensure the correct noun form ('acquisition') is used when referring to the act or result of acquiring.
Tips
Think of effort
When you see 'acquire,' think about the effort or process involved in obtaining it, whether it's learning a skill or making a purchase.
Avoid overuse in informal talk
While correct, using 'acquire' too often in casual conversation can sound overly formal or even pretentious. Stick to 'get' or 'learn' for simplicity.
Business acquisitions
In the business world, 'acquisition' is a key term referring to the strategic takeover or purchase of one company by another.
Word Origin
From Latin 'acquirere,' meaning 'to gain, get, obtain,' composed of 'ad-' (to) and 'quaerere' (to seek, ask for).
Cultural Context
In many cultures, the ability to 'acquire' knowledge and skills is highly valued as a path to social mobility and personal fulfillment.
Memory Tip
Imagine 'a choir' (choir) singing perfectly - they had to 'acquire' that skill through lots of practice!
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions'Get' is a more general and informal term for obtaining something. 'Acquire' often implies more effort, a process, or a formal transaction.
Yes, you can acquire abstract things like knowledge, skills, habits, or even a reputation.
Generally, yes. It implies gaining something, but the context can sometimes imply negative acquisitions, like acquiring a disease.
It means one company buys or takes control of another company.
You acquire a skill through practice, study, and experience over time.
It can be, but it's often replaced by simpler verbs like 'get' or 'learn' in very informal situations. It's more common in formal or written contexts.
Common opposites include 'lose,' 'relinquish,' 'forfeit,' or 'give up.'
No, it means to obtain something. This can be through buying, learning, earning, inheriting, or other means.
Test Yourself
She is determined to ______ fluency in French before her trip.
The sentence requires the base form of the verb 'acquire' to complete the infinitive phrase 'to acquire fluency'.
What does it mean to 'acquire' something?
'Acquire' means to get or obtain something, often through effort or a process.
skills / new / acquire / to / wants / He
The sentence follows the standard English subject-verb-object structure, with 'to acquire new skills' functioning as the object of 'wants'.
Score: /3
Summary
Acquire means to obtain something, often through effort, learning, or a formal process.
- Gain possession through effort or learning.
- Formal term for obtaining something.
- Used in business, education, and personal growth.
Think of effort
When you see 'acquire,' think about the effort or process involved in obtaining it, whether it's learning a skill or making a purchase.
Avoid overuse in informal talk
While correct, using 'acquire' too often in casual conversation can sound overly formal or even pretentious. Stick to 'get' or 'learn' for simplicity.
Business acquisitions
In the business world, 'acquisition' is a key term referring to the strategic takeover or purchase of one company by another.
Examples
6 of 6It takes years to acquire mastery in a complex field.
Il faut des années pour acquérir la maîtrise dans un domaine complexe.
The company aims to acquire new customers through aggressive marketing.
L'entreprise vise à acquérir de nouveaux clients grâce à un marketing agressif.
Children naturally acquire language skills by listening and interacting.
Les enfants acquièrent naturellement des compétences linguistiques en écoutant et en interagissant.
He managed to acquire a rare stamp for his collection.
Il a réussi à acquérir un timbre rare pour sa collection.
She wants to acquire a deeper understanding of the subject.
Elle souhaite acquérir une compréhension plus approfondie du sujet.
Many people hope to acquire their own home someday.
Beaucoup de gens espèrent acquérir leur propre maison un jour.
Quick Quiz
It takes many years of practice to ___ the skills of a professional pianist.
Correct!
The correct answer is: acquire
Related Content
Learn it in Context
This Word in Other Languages
Related Vocabulary
As a noun, a "master" is a person who has complete control o...
obtainTo get something that you want or need, especially by making...
gainTo obtain something useful or wanted, such as knowledge, exp...
learnTo gain knowledge, understanding, or a skill by studying, pr...
developTo grow or change into something more advanced, larger, or s...
More Education words
abalihood
C1Describing a state of latent potential or the inherent quality of being poised for skill acquisition. It is primarily used in specialized psychometric contexts to identify subjects who possess the necessary cognitive foundation for a task but have not yet demonstrated mastery.
abcedation
C1Abcedation refers to the act of teaching, learning, or arranging something in alphabetical order. It is an obscure or technical term used primarily in archival, linguistic, or historical educational contexts to describe systematic organization or initial literacy.
abcognful
C1An abcognful refers to the maximum amount of abstract cognitive data an individual can consciously process or hold in working memory at one time. It is a specialized term used in psychometric testing to quantify the upper limits of conceptual synthesis and mental agility.
ability
A1Ability is the physical or mental power or skill needed to do something. It describes what a person is capable of achieving through talent or training.
abspirary
C1Relating to a secondary or tangential objective that diverges from the primary focus of a study or operation. In testing contexts, it describes data or results that are incidental to the main hypothesis but nonetheless provide valuable context.
abstract
B2A brief summary of a research paper, thesis, or report that highlights the main points and findings. It is typically found at the beginning of a document to help readers quickly understand the core purpose and results.
abstruse
C1Describing something that is difficult to understand because it is intellectual, complex, or obscure. It is typically used for subjects, theories, or language that require significant effort or specialized knowledge to grasp.
academic
A2Relating to schools, colleges, and universities, or connected to studying and thinking rather than practical or technical skills. It is often used to describe subjects like history, math, and science that are studied in an educational setting.
accreditation
B2Accreditation is the formal recognition or official approval granted by an authorized body to an institution, organization, or program that meets specific standards of quality and competence. It serves as a guarantee to the public that the entity operates at a high level of professional or educational excellence.
admission
B2Admission refers to the permission or right to enter a place, organization, or institution, often involving a specific process or fee. It also describes a statement acknowledging that something is true, typically something that is personal, embarrassing, or an error.
