Acquire — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈkwī(-ə)r/ ac·quire

Meaning & Definition of Acquire

Acquire (verb)

  1. to get as one's own:
  2. to come into possession or control of often by unspecified means
  3. to come to have as a new or added characteristic, trait, or ability (as by sustained effort or natural selection)

Acquire (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come to have gradually

    "from years of working two jobs, he has acquired the ability to get by on only a few hours of sleep a day"

    similar: cultivate, develop, form
    related: absorb, adopt, embrace, take in, take on, gain, get, obtain, achieve, attain, reach, foster, nourish, nurture, promote
    opposite: lose
    near: abandon, desert, forsake, cast, discard, ditch, dump, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough, throw away, throw out, unload

  2. to receive as return for effort

    "acquired a reputation for always arriving at his friends' house just as they were sitting down to dinner"

    similar: attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win
    related: clear, gross, net, accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake
    opposite: forfeit, lose
    near: accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Acquire

The most common words with a similar meaning to Acquire:

cultivate, develop, form, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Acquire

Words with the opposite meaning of Acquire:

lose, forfeit

Related Words for Acquire

absorb, adopt, embrace, take in, take on, achieve, reach, foster, nourish, nurture, promote, clear, gross, net, accomplish, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake

Near Antonyms of Acquire

abandon, desert, forsake, cast, discard, ditch, dump, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough, throw away, throw out, unload, accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

Word Forms of Acquire

Inflections: acquired, acquiring

Origin & Etymology of Acquire

borrowed from Latin acquīrere, from ad- ad- + quaerere "to seek, gain, obtain, enquire"; replacing earlier aquere, going back to Middle English aqweren, borrowed from Anglo-French acquerre, going back to Vulgar Latin *acquaerere, restructuring (by restoring the vocalism of quaerere) of acquīrere quest:1

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Acquire

  • Topics: Common Actions / Verbs

Words & Phrases Containing Acquire

acquire a reputation

Frequently Asked Questions about Acquire

What does "Acquire" mean?

"Acquire" means to get as one's own:. As a verb, it is defined as: to get as one's own:. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Acquire"?

Other words for "Acquire" include cultivate, develop, form, attain, bag, bring in, capture and carry. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Acquire" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Acquire"?

There are 54 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Acquire". Common alternatives include cultivate, develop, form, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by and draw.

What is the opposite of "Acquire"?

Antonyms of "Acquire" include lose and forfeit. Near antonyms include abandon, desert, forsake and cast.

How do you use "Acquire" in a sentence?

Examples of "Acquire" in a sentence: "from years of working two jobs, he has acquired the ability to get by on only a few hours of sleep a day"; "acquired a reputation for always arriving at his friends' house just as they were sitting down to dinner".

Is "Acquire" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Acquire" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Acquire"?

"Acquire" is pronounced /ə-ˈkwī(-ə)r/ and divided into syllables as ac·quire.

What is the origin of the word "Acquire"?

"Acquire" comes from borrowed from Latin acquīrere, from ad- ad- + quaerere "to seek, gain, obtain, enquire"; replacing earlier aquere, going back to Middle English aqweren, borrowed from Anglo-French acquerre, going back to Vulgar Latin *acquaerere, restructuring (by restoring the vocalism of quaerere) of acquīrere quest:1. First known use: 15th century.