acquire

[ uh-kwahyuhr ]

verb (used with object)

, ac·quired, ac·quir·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• acˈquirable, adjective
• acˈquirer, noun
• acˈquirement, noun

Other Words From

• ac·quir·a·ble adjective
• ac·quir·a·bil·i·ty [uh, -kwahy, uh, r-, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• ac·quir·er noun
• pre·ac·quire verb preacquired preacquiring
• re·ac·quire verb (used with object) reacquired reacquiring
• self-ac·quired adjective
• un·ac·quir·a·ble adjective
• un·ac·quired adjective
• well-ac·quired adjective

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.

Related Words

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