acquaint
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make more or less familiar, aware, or conversant (usually followed bywith ).
to acquaint the mayor with our plan.
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to furnish with knowledge; inform (usually followed bywith ).
to acquaint the manager with one's findings.
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to bring into social contact; introduce (usually followed bywith ).
She acquainted her roommate with my cousin.
verb
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to make (a person) familiar or conversant (with); inform (of)
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(foll by with) to introduce (to); bring into contact (with)
Usage
What is another way to say acquaint? To acquaint two or more people is to bring them into social contact. How is acquaint different from introduce? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
acquaintsimple
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acquaintssimple
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have acquaintedperfect
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has acquaintedperfect
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am acquaintingprogressive
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are acquaintingprogressive
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is acquaintingprogressive
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have been acquaintingperfect progressive
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has been acquaintingperfect progressive
Past
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acquaintedsimple
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had acquaintedperfect
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was acquaintingprogressive
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were acquaintingprogressive
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had been acquaintingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of acquaint
1250–1300; Middle English aqueinten, acointen < Anglo-French acointer, Old French acoint ( i ) er, verbal derivative of acointe familiar, known < Latin accognitus, past participle of accognōscere to recognize, equivalent to ac- ac- + co- co- + gni- know 1 + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
When you acquaint yourself with something, you familiarize yourself with it. When you visit a new city, you should acquaint yourself with the layout of the streets so you don’t get lost. You can also acquaint yourself with another person, by introducing yourself and getting know them. When you see the moving truck pull in across the street, you might want to run over and acquaint yourself with your new neighbors. The word acquaint comes via French from the Latin accognoscere, which is made up of ad- “to,” or “toward,” and cognoscere “come to know.”
Vocabulary lists containing acquaint
Frindle
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"My Antonia" by Willa Cather: Captivating Verbs
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Missing May
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Acquaint yourself with the University of Oregon campus on a miles-long running tour with a student or researcher who can chat about campus life and discoveries in, say, microbiology with equal authority.
From Washington Post • Nov. 8, 2017
Acquaint yourself with the finer points of the pink drink.
From Time • Jun. 30, 2017
Acquaint me with the desire that thou formedst.”
From Folk-Lore and Legends: Oriental by Tibbitts, Charles John
Acquaint yourself with the old masters and works before you take up the novelties.
From What Every Singer Should Know by Ryan, Millie
December 7 Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.—JOB xxii.
From Daily Strength for Daily Needs by Tileston, Mary W.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
