acquire

verb

ac·​quire ə-ˈkwī(-ə)r How to pronounce acquire (audio)
acquired; acquiring
Synonyms of acquire

transitive verb

1
: to get as one's own:
a
: to come into possession or control of often by unspecified means
acquire property
The team acquired three new players this year.
b
: to come to have as a new or added characteristic, trait, or ability (as by sustained effort or natural selection)
acquire fluency in French
bacteria that acquire tolerance to antibiotics
2
: to locate and hold (a desired object) in a detector
acquire a target by radar

Synonyms of acquire

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Examples of acquire in a Sentence

The two ships were acquired by the navy after the war. The team acquired three new players this year. The old word has acquired a new meaning. This apparently minor event has acquired increasing significance in recent weeks. He is studying the way that language is acquired by children.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Someone who buys one hypercar is often likely to buy another, much as people who own private jets or yachts may acquire more than one. — New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026 The study also detailed how physicians often change their referral and prescribing patterns after their practices are acquired by hospitals, sometimes requesting imaging or other procedures that are not needed. — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 Rather than waiting for a $10 million EBITDA platform to appear, an investor can acquire a $3 million to $5 million EBITDA anchor company and build around it. — Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2026 As soon as the Miami Heat acquired two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, the questions about Antetokounmpo’s fit alongside three-time All-Star center Bam Adebayo began. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acquire

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin acquīrere, from ad- ad- + quaerere "to seek, gain, obtain, enquire"; replacing earlier aquere, going back to Middle English aqweren, borrowed from Anglo-French acquerre, going back to Vulgar Latin *acquaerere, restructuring (by restoring the vocalism of quaerere) of acquīrere — more at quest entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of acquire was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing acquire

Rhymes for acquire

See All Rhymes for acquire

Browse Nearby Words

acquirable
acquire
acquire a reputation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acquire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acquire. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

acquire

verb
ac·​quire ə-ˈkwī(ə)r How to pronounce acquire (audio)
acquired; acquiring
: to come to have often by one's own efforts : gain
acquirable
-ˈkwī-rə-bəl
adjective

Medical Definition

acquire

transitive verb
ac·​quire ə-ˈkwī(ə)r How to pronounce acquire (audio)
acquired; acquiring
: to come to have as a new or additional characteristic, trait, or ability (as by sustained effort, by mutation, or through environmental forces)
a cognitive system … that is acquired in early childhood—Noam Chomsky
bacteria that acquire tolerance to antibiotics
insects that acquire resistance to insecticides

Legal Definition

acquire

transitive verb
ac·​quire ə-ˈkwīr How to pronounce acquire (audio)
acquired; acquiring
: to come into possession, ownership, or control of : obtain as one's own
the target's directors don't want the company to be acquired—R. C. Clark
the court acquired jurisdiction
acquirer noun
also acquiror
ə-ˈkwīr-ər
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