English Meaning & Definitions
To buy or obtain an asset, object, or piece of property for oneself.
- “The company plans to acquire several smaller competitors over the next year.”
- “She managed to acquire a rare first edition of the novel.”
To learn or develop a skill, habit, or quality.
- “It takes years of practice to acquire fluency in a foreign language.”
- “He has acquired a reputation for being exceptionally thorough.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “acquire”.
Late Middle English: from Old French acquirer or Latin adquirere, from ad- 'to, towards' + quaerere 'seek to obtain'.
Think of 'ac-' (to) + 'require' (to need/ask for) — when you need something, you go out and acquire it.
Frequently Asked Questions About “acquire”
1. What is the meaning of “acquire” in English?
In English, acquire (verb) is defined as: “To buy or obtain an asset, object, or piece of property for oneself.”.
2. How do you use “acquire” in a sentence?
“The company plans to acquire several smaller competitors over the next year.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “acquire”?
Late Middle English: from Old French acquirer or Latin adquirere, from ad- 'to, towards' + quaerere 'seek to obtain'.
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
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