verb

acquire

uh-KWEYE-uh

verb

To get or obtain something, often through effort, purchase, or over time.

"The company acquired a smaller rival last year."

"She acquired a taste for spicy food while living abroad."

To develop or catch (an illness, habit, or skill) over time.

"He acquired a limp after the accident."

How to Use Acquire

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo gain or obtain something, whether it's a company, a skill, or a habit.

Common pairings

acquire a company acquire a taste for acquire skills

Word Forms

acquired past tense, acquire plural, acquired plural, acquires singular, acquire singular, acquired singular, acquirest singular, acquiredst singular, acquireth singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The company _____ a smaller rival last year.

Etymology

From Old French aquerre, from Latin acquiro, built from ad- ("to") and quaero ("to seek").

Synonyms

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achieve collect find gather get score

Antonyms

abandon lose discard dispose

Related Words

abandon be accomplish accumulate achieve win begin lose

Rhymes for acquire

ire fire wire tire lire dire hire mire sire afire Zaire spire

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achieve collect find gather get score abandon lose discard dispose be accomplish