# acquired

/əˈkwaɪɝd/ (US) · /ɐkwˈaɪəd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to have gained or bought

verb · CEFR B2

the past tense of 'acquire', meaning you got something or learned a new skill.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'acquire', denoting the act of gaining possession or attaining a specific mental or physical trait.

- The company acquired its smaller rival last year to expand its market share.
- Having acquired the necessary permits after months of bureaucratic delays, the developers finally broke ground on the new community centre.

### 2. not from birth

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describes a medical condition or a habit that you develop over time, rather than being born with it.

For teachers: referring to a trait, disease, or condition that is not congenital but is developed after birth due to environmental factors or infection.

- The doctor explained that his hearing loss was acquired, not something he was born with.
- The study focused on acquired immunity, specifically how the body remembers pathogens after an initial exposure or vaccination.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 3. acquired taste

adjective · CEFR B2

used to describe something you didn't like at first but learned to enjoy over time.

For teachers: part of the fixed idiom 'acquired taste', referring to a preference for something that is initially unpleasant or difficult to appreciate.

- Strong blue cheese is often an acquired taste for many people.
- The minimalist aesthetic of the building proved to be an acquired taste, eventually winning over critics who initially found it cold.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the phrase 'an acquired taste'.

## Examples

- He acquired a taste for spicy food while living abroad.
- The patient acquired a secondary infection during her stay at the hospital despite the strict hygiene protocols.
- 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.

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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.