acquire Hear it!

acquire Definition

ac·quire (ə kwīr′)

transitive verb acquired -·quired′, acquiring -·quir′·ing

  1. to get or gain by one's own efforts or actions to acquire an education
  2. to come to have as one's own; get possession of to acquire certain traits

Etymology: L acquirere < ad-, to + quaerere, to seek

Related Forms:

acquire Synonyms

acquire

v.

  1. To obtain

    take, get, earn, procure; see obtain 1.

  2. To receive

    get, gain, take possession, collect; see receive 1. See syn. study atobtain.

acquire Usage Examples

Object

  • knowledge: You also acquire a sound reading knowledge of Modern Greek.
  • weapon: A variety of states and groups continue to seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them.