acquire

[uh-kwahyuhr]

verb (used with object)

acquired, acquiring 

1. to come into possession or ownership of; get as one's own.

   to acquire property.

2. to gain for oneself through one's actions or efforts.

   to acquire learning.

   Synonyms: appropriate, attain, earn, win

3. Linguistics.,  to achieve native or nativelike command of (a language or a linguistic rule or element).

4. Military.,  to locate and track (a moving target) with a detector, as radar.

acquire

/ əˈkwaɪə /

verb

1. (tr) to get or gain (something, such as an object, trait, or ability), esp more or less permanently

Other Word Forms

• acquirable adjective
• acquirability noun
• acquirer noun
• preacquire verb
• reacquire verb (used with object)
• self-acquired adjective
• unacquirable adjective
• unacquired adjective
• well-acquired adjective
• acquirement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of acquire¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin acquīrere “to add to one's possessions, acquire” ( ac- ac- + -quīrere, combining form of quaerere “to search for, obtain”); replacing late Middle English aquere, from Middle French aquerre, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of acquire¹

C15: via Old French from Latin acquīrere, from ad- in addition + quaerere to get, seek

Synonym Study

See get.

Example Sentences

Pretrial filings and hearings indicated that the Angels were attempting to show that Skaggs was a longtime drug user who acquired pills from sources other than Kay.

From Los Angeles Times

He acquired US citizenship and signed George Best to play for the first professional sports team in Silicon Valley, the San Jose Earthquakes.

From BBC

When they suggested pulling down her uterus to acquire the sample, she demanded they stop.

From Salon

Lawyers for the claimants successfully argued that new evidence had come to light, and they did not know how information was being covertly acquired at the time.

From BBC

It is worth noting that the deal for PIF to acquire EA is yet to be officially approved by the relevant authorities.

From BBC

Related Words

• achieve 
• amass 
• bring in 
• buy 
• collect 
• earn 
• gain 
• get 
• have 
• pick up 
• promote 
• take 
• win 

When To Use

What does acquire mean?

Acquire most commonly means to get, buy, or learn.Acquire has a lot of meanings that vary with context. Most of them refer to the act of getting something permanently. It has more specific meanings in linguistics and in the context of the military. It’s easy to misspell acquire as aquire, so don’t forget the c.Example: When the merger is complete, our company will have acquired its largest competitor.