Acquired Acquire I Verb Bre əˈkwaɪə(R əˈkwaɪər Good

• she has acquired a good knowledge of english.
• how long will it take to acquire the necessary skills?
• he has acquired a reputation for dishonesty.
• i have recently acquired a taste for olives.

acquire

1. to gain something by your own efforts, ability or behaviour
• She has acquired a good knowledge of English.
• How long will it take to acquire the necessary skills?
• He has acquired a reputation for dishonesty.
• I have recently acquired a taste for olives.
2. to obtain something by buying or being given it
• The company has just acquired new premises.
• How did the gallery come to acquire so many Picassos?
• I've suddenly acquired a stepbrother.
3. a thing that you do not like much at first but gradually learn to like
• Abstract art is an acquired taste.

Extra Examples

• I’ve suddenly acquired a stepbrother.
• When you have acquired a basic range of computing skills, you will be ready to start the job.
• to acquire a love of/taste for something
• to acquire a reputation/bad name/criminal record/tan/look/appearance

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they acquire
• he / she / it acquires
• past simple acquired
• past participle acquired
• -ing form acquiring

Word Origin

• late Middle English acquere, from Old French aquerre, based on Latin acquirere ‘get in addition’, from ad- ‘to’ + quaerere ‘seek’. The English spelling was modified (c.1600) by association with the Latin word.