Meaning & use
acquire
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
To gain possession of something, often gradually or through effort.
Grammar: Takes an object: acquire a house; more formal than get.
Patterns
- acquire something
- acquire something over time
- acquire property
The museum hopes to acquire the painting next year.
He acquired land slowly, one small lot at a time.
verbtransitive
To learn or develop a skill, habit, language, or quality through experience.
Grammar: Takes an object: acquire a skill; common in education and psychology.
Patterns
- acquire a skill
- acquire language
- acquire a habit
Children acquire vocabulary faster than adults expect.
She acquired the habit of checking the weather before cycling.
verbtransitivebusinessfinance
To buy a company, asset, or controlling interest in it.
Grammar: Business use; takes an object: acquire a rival firm.
Patterns
- acquire a company
- acquire an asset
- acquire control of something
The retailer plans to acquire a smaller delivery company.
They acquired control of the studio in March.
Word forms
| third person singular | acquires |
|---|---|
| past tense | acquired |
| past participle | acquired |
| -ing form | acquiring |
Common combinations
- acquire knowledge
- Students acquire knowledge by testing ideas, not only by memorizing.
- acquire experience
- Interns acquire experience by handling real deadlines.
- acquire a company
- The firm may acquire a company with complementary software.
- newly acquired
- The newly acquired printer arrived before the workshop.
Synonyms and how they differ
- obtain
- Obtain is neutral and often quicker; acquire can emphasize gradual gain.
- gain
- Gain is broader and common in speech; acquire is more formal or deliberate.
- purchase
- Purchase means buy; acquire can mean buy, learn, or come to possess.
- develop
- Develop fits skills or habits; acquire fits possessions and learned abilities.
Opposites
Word family
- acquisition noun
- The act of acquiring or something acquired.
- acquisitive adjective
- Eager to acquire possessions.
- acquired adjective
- Gained rather than innate.
Commonly confused: acquire or inquire?
acquire vs inquire
Inquire means ask; acquire means gain.
Practice
Choose the best sentence.
Choose one answer.
Acquire is transitive and can take a company or asset as its object. Options 1 to 3 are missing the object or using wrong prepositions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “acquire”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.