ENGLISH
REFERENCE

acquired

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //əˈkwaɪɝd// UK //ɐkwˈaɪəd// ac·quired

v. to get or develop something over time, like a skill, a habit, or a medical condition.

v. to develop or contract a condition, trait, or disease after birth, rather than inheriting it genetically. Often used to distinguish environmental or lifestyle factors from congenital ones.


SIMPLE

He acquired a taste for spicy food while living abroad.

CONTEXTUAL

The patient acquired a secondary infection during her stay at the hospital despite the strict hygiene protocols.

COMPLEX

While some immune responses are innate, others are acquired through exposure to specific pathogens, allowing the body to recognize and neutralize future threats more effectively.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. In medical contexts, it is frequently used in the passive voice ('was acquired').

Pitfall

He acquired to the diseaseHe acquired the diseaseAcquire is a transitive verb and does not take a preposition before its object.

Idioms1 entry

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