acute

[ uh-kyoot ]

/ əˈkyut /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: acute / acutely / acuteness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

sharp or severe in effect; intense: acute sorrow;an acute pain.

extremely great or serious; crucial; critical: an acute shortage of oil.

(of disease) brief and severe (opposed to chronic).

sharp or penetrating in intellect, insight, or perception: an acute observer.

extremely sensitive even to slight details or impressions: acute eyesight.

sharp at the end; ending in a point.

Geometry.

(of an angle) less than 90°.
(of a triangle) containing only acute angles.

Phonetics, Orthography. consisting of, indicated by, or bearing the diacritic ´, placed over vowel symbols in some languages to show that the vowels or the syllables they are in are pronounced in a certain way, as in French that the quality of an eso marked is close; in Hungarian that the vowel is long; in Spanish that the marked syllable bears the word accent; in Ibo that it is pronounced with high tones; or in classical Greek, where the mark originated, that the syllable bears the word accent and is pronounced, according to the ancient grammarians, with raised pitch (opposed to grave): the acute accent;an acute e.

noun

Phonetics, Orthography. the acute accent.

OTHER WORDS FOR acute

3 sudden, extreme, violent.

4 keen, astute, discerning, perceptive, intelligent, perspicacious; sharp-witted, clever, smart, bright, ingenious, brilliant; knowing, wise, sage, sagacious, sapient.

5 keen.

See synonyms for acute on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR acute

1, 4 dull.

See antonyms for acute on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of acute

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin acūtus “sharpened,” past participle of acuere (acū-, verb stem, akin to acus “needle,” ācer “sharp” + -tus past participle suffix)

synonym study for acute

4. Acute, penetrating, shrewd imply a keenness of understanding, perception, or insight. Acute suggests particularly a clearness of perception and a realization of related meanings: an acute intellect. Penetrating adds the idea of depth of perception and a realization of implications: a wise and penetrating judgment. Shrewd adds the idea of knowing how to apply practically (or to one's own advantage) what one perceives and understands: wary and shrewd.

OTHER WORDS FROM acute

a·cute·ly, adverba·cute·ness, nounhy·per·a·cute, adjectivenon·a·cute, adjective

o·ver·a·cute, adjectivesu·per·a·cute, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH acute

acute , chronic

Words nearby acute

acupuncture, acupuncturist, acus, acusector, acutance, acute, acute abdomen, acute accent, acute adrenocortical insufficiency, acute African sleeping sickness, acute alcoholism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use acute in a sentence

Otherwise, the public purse and citizens are deprived of funds for much needed investments – the need for which is even more acute now to support Europe’s economic recovery.
European Commission to appeal decision that reversed Apple’s $15B State Aid tax bill in Ireland|Ingrid Lunden|September 25, 2020|TechCrunch
I experience chronic sinusitis and headaches with fairly frequent acute infections.
My cancer might be back—and I wonder if unnecessary radiation caused it in the first place|jakemeth|September 22, 2020|Fortune
So the hospital industry lobbied for a new kind of health system for older adults who were dependent on getting medical help but did not need acute care.
He Wanted to Fix Rural America’s Broken Nursing Homes. Now, Taxpayers May Be on the Hook for $76 Million.|by Max Blau for Georgia Health News|September 22, 2020|ProPublica
I am for more of it, not less, especially at this moment of acute need.
Why I’m giving up my board seat to make room for someone from an underrepresented community|jakemeth|September 21, 2020|Fortune

ProPublica focused on those who remained — the 55 people who died outside of any acute care setting, in categories the coroner labeled “decedent residence,” “hospice” and “other care center,” which often included hospice deaths.
Sent Home to Die|by Annie Waldman and Joshua Kaplan|September 2, 2020|ProPublica
Exploitation of trafficking victims may be most acute in conflict and adjoining regions, but it is not confined to these areas.
ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Growing Role of Human Trafficking in 21st Century Terrorism|Louise I. Shelley|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This sense of vulnerability is, of course, even more acute in micro-states like Jamaica.
How Maurice Tomlinson Was Outed in Jamaica—and Forced Into Exile|Jay Michaelson|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hyperemesis Gravidarum is very acute morning sickness, which may require supplementary hydration, medication and nutrients.
Second Royal Baby for Kate|Tom Sykes|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The soil variations are acute enough that they can differ radically from one side of a road to another.
Napa’s Earthquake Is Not The Only Thing Shaking The Vineyards|Clive Irving|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And my teenage daughters went into the town to shop at cute stores selling cute things at acute prices.
Why I Hate The Beach|P. J. O’Rourke|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In acute and chronic parenchymatous nephritis the quantity is usually very large.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Renal cells are abundant in parenchymatous nephritis, especially the acute form.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
There was acute disharmony in the room, where a little time before there had been at least an outward show of harmony.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
As they got lower and lower down the hill, her wretchedness and disquiet became acute, to the point of a wild despair.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
It seemed quite the forlornest hope I had ever heard of, but Jack's distress was so acute that I hadn't the heart to refuse.
Uncanny Tales|Various

British Dictionary definitions for acute

acute

/ (əˈkjuːt) /

adjective

penetrating in perception or insight

sensitive to details; keen

of extreme importance; crucial

sharp or severe; intenseacute pain; an acute drought

having a sharp end or point

maths

(of an angle) less than 90°
(of a triangle) having all its interior angles less than 90°

(of a disease)

arising suddenly and manifesting intense severity
of relatively short durationCompare chronic (def. 2)

phonetics

(of a vowel or syllable in some languages with a pitch accent, such as ancient Greek) spoken or sung on a higher musical pitch relative to neighbouring syllables or vowels
of or relating to an accent (´) placed over vowels, denoting that the vowel is pronounced with higher musical pitch (as in ancient Greek), with a certain special quality (as in French), etcCompare (for senses 8a, 8b): grave, circumflex

(of a hospital, hospital bed, or ward) intended to accommodate short-term patients with acute illnesses

noun

an acute accent

Derived forms of acute

acutely, adverbacuteness, noun

Word Origin for acute

C14: from Latin acūtus, past participle of acuere to sharpen, from acus needle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for acute

acute

[ ə-kyōōt′ ]

adj.

Pointed at the end; sharp.

Of or relating to a disease or a condition with a rapid onset and a short, severe course.

Of or relating to a patient afflicted with such a disease.

Scientific definitions for acute

acute

[ ə-kyōōt′ ]

Reacting readily to stimuli or impressions, as hearing or eyesight; sensitive.

Relating to an illness that has a rapid onset and follows a short but severe course. Compare chronic.

Having an acute angle.

acute

OTHER WORDS FOR acute

OPPOSITES FOR acute

Origin of acute

synonym study for acute

OTHER WORDS FROM acute

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH acute

Words nearby acute

Words related to acute

How to use acute in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for acute

Derived forms of acute

Word Origin for acute

Medical definitions for acute

Scientific definitions for acute