acquire - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
acquire Word Meanings
- to gain possession of something
- to learn or develop a skill
- to obtain through effort or experience
acquire Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
acquire Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/əˈkwaɪə/
US
/əˈkwaɪɚ/
acquire Word Etymology
acquire = ad- (to) + quaerere (to seek). Origin: Latin → Old French → English. Memory image: Imagine a treasure hunt where you seek out and gain valuable items.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I reach into the shelf, move a few books aside, and pull out a worn notebook. I set it on the table, adjust my grip, and turn the first page, curiosity turning into focus. With each line, the moment feels more real, and a small hold and keep grow in me. Through steady effort, this act of taking possession extends to new skills, tools, or lessons I can acquire in daily life.
Real Context
Acquire means to gain possession of something, often after effort or time. It can describe physically obtaining objects, as in buying or receiving, or abstract gains like skills, knowledge, or habits that develop through practice. You can acquire a new language, acquire a taste for a dish, or acquire experience through work. The word emphasizes process and outcome, not merely reaching a threshold. In everyday use you might say you acquired a car, you acquired a skill, or you acquired the habit of reading each night. Etymology traces to Latin ad- (to) and quaerere (to seek), passing through Old French into English. Memory image: a treasure hunt where you seek out and gain valuable items.
Usage Reminders
- Use acquire for obtaining something through effort or experience.
- Choose it for skills, knowledge, or habits you actively develop.
- Compare with obtain or get to feel the nuance of formality and process.
- Follow with a direct object: acquire a skill, acquire a language, acquire experience.
- Remember common collocations like acquire a taste and acquire a habit.
Common Misconceptions
- It's only for tangible objects.
- It's always more formal than obtain or get.
- You can't acquire knowledge or a skill.
- It's the same as 'inherit' or 'buy'.
- You can't acquire something that happens naturally without effort.
Thinking Differences
In English, acquire often emphasizes a purposeful gain through effort, especially for skills or possessions that require time to earn. Learners may overgeneralize to casual 'getting' or forget to pair with a direct object (acquire a skill, acquire experience).
Learning Tips
- Practice using acquire with different objects.
- Compare with obtain and gain to feel nuance.
- Use with skills: acquire a skill.
- Notice collocations: acquire a taste.
- Read and listen for context.
- Create a memory image to connect the idea.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'acquire'?
A.To obtain
B.To lose
C.To give
D.To share
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is 'acquire' used correctly?
A.They want to give up the business
B.She wants to lose more money
C.He wants to acquire more knowledge
D.I want to share my belongings
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'acquire'?
A.Relinquish
B.Discard
C.Receive
D.Obtain
Step 4: Opposite Words
Which word is the opposite of 'acquire'?
A.Keep
B.Earn
C.Lose
D.Purchase
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would someone use the word 'acquire'?
A.Shopping for new clothes
B.Donating to charity
C.Selling a house
D.Learning a new skill
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