easy
You can acquire new vocabulary by reading often.
What does Acquire mean?
Acquire means to get something or come to have a skill, quality, or knowledge.
Dictionary definition
To get something as your own, or to come to have a skill, quality, habit, or knowledge. Acquire is a formal verb used with an object: you acquire something. Getting it may happen through learning, buying, receiving, or experience; it need not take a long time.
Example sentences
Acquire in a sentence
medium
The museum hopes to acquire a rare painting.
hard
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Writing practice
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Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Acquire
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
The library acquired a new atlas. What happened?
Acquired means came to have. The library got the atlas; the sentence does not tell us whether it bought it or received it.
Practice 2
Which sentence uses acquire to describe gaining an ability?
Drawing skills are an ability. The other sentences describe getting objects, which is also a correct use of acquire.
Practice 3
The museum is ___ a painting for its collection. Which spelling completes the sentence?
After is, use the -ing form here. Drop the final e in acquire before adding -ing: acquiring.
Practice complete
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Pronunciation coach
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Acquire
Voice settings
Sounds like
uh · kwyr · strongest beat: kwyr
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordAcquire.
Partverb.
MeaningAcquire means to get something or come to have a skill, quality, or knowledge.
ExampleExample: You can acquire new vocabulary by reading often.
Word breakdown
2 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- uh · kwyr
- Strongest beat
- kwyr
- Ending
- kwyr
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on kwyr.
Your turn
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Synonyms
Words like Acquire
Antonyms
Opposite words
loseUse for no longer having a possession or ability: lose a skill or a painting. It contrasts with acquiring that same thing.
Synonym practice
Want to practice acquire synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The library hoped to acquire new books," then compare close word choices. Practice acquire synonyms.
Word family
Acquire word family
Base word
acquire
verb
acquired
Past tense and past participle: the museum acquired a painting.
verb
acquiring
The -ing form. Drop the final e before adding -ing: acquiring.
Related words
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Student support
Understand Acquire
Hint for students
Ask what the person or place came to have: an object, a skill, or a quality.
Common mix-up
Acquire does not always mean learn slowly. A museum can acquire a painting in one purchase; use acquire with an object and spell the -ing form acquiring.
Try it in class or at home
Sort "acquire a bicycle", "acquire patience", and "acquire reading skills" into possessions and qualities or abilities. Write one sentence for each group and say how the thing was gained.
Teacher prompt
Discuss this model sentence: "The library acquired an atlas as a gift." What did it get, and why does acquire not always mean buy?
Learning activities
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