acquired
Americanadjective
-
obtained or procured, such as by purchasing, receiving, learning.
-
Medicine/Medical. (of a disease or condition) developed by the patient at some point after birth.
-
Biology. (of a trait) developed by an organism in response to its environment; not inherited.
Other Word Forms
Explanation
The adjective acquired describes something you're not born with: you gain or develop it later in life, like your acquired taste for coffee. Acquired comes from the Latin word acquirere, meaning "to seek in addition to. Something acquired is something you have gotten, not something you always had. For example, you may have acquired the habit of buying lots...and lots of sneakers after getting a job in a shoe store. Or, if you have an acquired habit of reading novels, this is something that developed over time. After all, you weren't born reading!
Vocabulary lists containing acquired
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 12–15
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Evolutionary Biology - Adaptation
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
STAAR Biology: Biological Evolution and Classification
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
When Turner acquired MGM’s library, along with Warner Bros.’ pre-1948 titles, he also became a custodian of American cinematic history, whether he intended to or not.
From Salon • May 8, 2026
The Ellison family acquired Paramount, which includes CBS and the storied Melrose Avenue film studio, last summer.
From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026
Backed by the private equity firm Roark Capital, Inspire Brands was founded in 2018 after Arby’s acquired Buffalo Wild Wings and Rusty Taco.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
Rocket Lab has acquired or announced plans to buy at least four companies this year, while also expanding into new business areas.
From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026
As my injuries from my fishing work began to heal, I acquired a new set of scratches and bruises, and after one fall I was limping for days.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
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.
