# acquire

/əˈkwaɪɝ/ (US) · /ɐkwˈaɪə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/acquire
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to buy or obtain

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to get something, often by buying it or being given it.

For teachers: to come into possession or ownership of an object or asset. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The local museum managed to acquire several rare paintings from a private collector.
- The corporation moved quickly to acquire its smaller competitor, aiming to consolidate its market share before the end of the fiscal year.

### 2. to learn or develop

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to learn a new skill or start to have a certain habit or quality.

For teachers: to develop a skill, habit, or quality through a gradual process of learning or experience.

- It takes many years of practice to acquire a high level of skill in playing the piano.
- Children typically acquire their first language naturally through social interaction rather than through formal instruction.

### 3. to catch a disease

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to become infected with a disease or medical condition.

For teachers: to contract or become affected by a pathogen or medical condition. Often used in clinical contexts to describe how a patient became ill.

- The doctor explained that the patient had acquired the infection while traveling abroad.
- Hospital-acquired infections remain a significant challenge for healthcare providers despite rigorous sanitisation protocols.

### 4. to collect data

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to collect signals or information and turn them into digital data.

For teachers: to sample physical signals and convert them into digital values for processing. Usually takes 'data' or 'signals' as an object.

- The sensors acquire data every millisecond to ensure the readings are accurate.
- The system is designed to acquire and process high-resolution imagery in real-time for environmental monitoring.

### 5. to track a target

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to find and start following a moving target with a camera or weapon system.

For teachers: to detect and begin tracking a mobile target with a sensor, radar, or sight, typically as a precursor to engagement.

- The pilot was able to acquire the target despite the heavy cloud cover.
- Once the radar system acquires the incoming projectile, the automated defence battery calculates an intercept trajectory within seconds.

## Examples

- The company plans to acquire its smaller rival next month.
- It takes several years for a child to fully acquire their first language through natural interaction.
- The museum recently managed to acquire a rare collection of seventeenth-century maps, significantly enhancing its historical archives for future research.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.