Meaning & use

acquired

adjective·Academic

Gained or obtained through effort, experience, or a specific event, rather than possessed from birth.

See it in a sentence

She acquired fluency in French after living in Paris for two years.

The company acquired a smaller startup to expand its technology.

A note on using this word

Acquired often contrasts with 'inherited' or 'innate', emphasizing that a skill, trait, or possession was gained rather than given naturally.

Words with a similar meaning

gainedobtained

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

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