acquire
Americanverb (used with object)
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to come into possession or ownership of; get as one's own.
to acquire property.
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to gain for oneself through one's actions or efforts.
to acquire learning.
- Synonyms:
- appropriate, attain, earn, win
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Linguistics. to achieve native or nativelike command of (a language or a linguistic rule or element).
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Military. to locate and track (a moving target) with a detector, as radar.
verb
Usage
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.
Synonym Usage
See get.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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preacquireverb
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well-acquiredadjective
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acquirabilitynoun
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acquirementnoun
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unacquirableadjective
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acquirernoun
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acquirableadjective
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unacquiredadjective
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reacquireverb (used with object)
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self-acquiredadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have acquiredperfect
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has acquiredperfect 3rd person singular
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am acquiringprogressive 1st person singular
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acquiringparticiple
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acquiressingular 3rd person
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have been acquiringperfect progressive
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is acquiringprogressive 3rd person singular
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are acquiringprogressive
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has been acquiringperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had acquiredperfect
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acquiredparticiple
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acquiredsimple
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had been acquiringperfect progressive
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was acquiringprogressive singular
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were acquiringprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of acquire
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
Explanation
To acquire means to get or come to own something. You acquire an education by your own effort. You acquire a painting by paying for it or by someone giving it to you. You acquire a sense of calm in crisis through experience. The list of things you can acquire includes: an object, a trait, a skill, or an ability. An acquired taste is something that people usually don't like when they first experience it, but later they come to enjoy it, such as raw clams or marmite. The verb acquire was borrowed from Latin acquīrere "to add to," from the prefix ad- "at, toward" plus quaerere "to seek, get."
Vocabulary lists containing acquire
List 4
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Frindle
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Boy: Tales of Childhood
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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.
SpaceX said it plans to receive about $74.4 billion in net proceeds from the IPO, or $85.7 billion if the firm’s underwriters fully exercise their options to acquire common shares.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
The spinoff aims to make Kunlunxin a “neutral player” to acquire external clients and support chip research and development.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
Gautam Mukhopadhaya, another former Indian ambassador to Myanmar, said Min Aung Hlaing "is trying to acquire greater regional and international respectability as an elected president".
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
Berkshire Hathaway will acquire $10 billion in Alphabet stock through a private placement at a 6%-plus discount.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
But to some other thing that longed for authenticity, for a right to be in this place, effortlessly without needing to acquire a false face, a laughless grin, a talking posture.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
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.
