VocabDictionary
🇬🇧English to English[be əˈkweɪntɪd wɪð]

be acquainted with

/bi əˈkweɪn.tɪd wɪð/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.idiom

To have personal knowledge of someone or something through experience, study, or previous contact.

Example Sentences:
  • I am well acquainted with the risks involved in this investment.
  • She is acquainted with several members of the local city council.
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “be acquainted with”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Old French 'acointier', meaning 'to make known to', which itself stems from the Vulgar Latin 'adcognitare' (to make known), a combination of 'ad-' (to) and 'cognoscere' (to know/recognize). It entered Middle English in the 14th century, originally denoting the act of becoming familiar or intimate with a person or subject.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of 'acquaint' as 'a-quaint'—you become 'quaint' (familiar) with someone's personality.

Frequently Asked Questions About “be acquainted with

1. What is the meaning of “be acquainted with” in English?

In English, be acquainted with (idiom) is defined as: “To have personal knowledge of someone or something through experience, study, or previous contact.”.

2. How do you use “be acquainted with” in a sentence?

I am well acquainted with the risks involved in this investment.

3. What are English synonyms of “be acquainted with”?

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “be acquainted with”?

Derived from the Old French 'acointier', meaning 'to make known to', which itself stems from the Vulgar Latin 'adcognitare' (to make known), a combination of 'ad-' (to) and 'cognoscere' (to know/recognize). It entered Middle English in the 14th century, originally denoting the act of becoming familiar or intimate with a person or subject.