acquire
gb/əkwˈaɪɚ/ us/əkwˈaɪɚ/
B1
English
~ 1600
megszerez, beszerez, felvásárol, szert tesz valamire, elsajátít, kialakít
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
to acquire [something]
The company plans to acquire several smaller competitors this year.
A vállalat azt tervezi, hogy idén több kisebb versenytársát is felvásárolja.
She managed to acquire a rare painting at the auction.
Sikerült megszereznie egy ritka festményt az árverésen.
Over the years, he has acquired a deep understanding of the subject.
They recently acquired a new office building downtown.
Children acquire language skills naturally.
Learner examples
I want to acquire a new phone.
Szeretnék venni egy új telefont.
He acquired a car last week.
A múlt héten vett egy autót.
We can acquire food from the market.
She acquired a new friend at school.
They will acquire more books for the library.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'acquire' with 'require'. 'Acquire' means to get something; 'require' means to need something.
Meaning
Get or obtain something
Collocations
acquire knowledge
|acquire skills
|acquire property
|acquire a company
|acquire information
Synonyms
obtain (Very close in meaning; 'obtain' is slightly more formal.)
|
get ('Get' is more informal and common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
lose (Opposite in the sense of no longer having something once possessed.)
|
give up (Opposite when meaning to voluntarily stop having something.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|education
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To get something, usually by buying it or working for it.
To come into possession or control of something, often through purchase, effort, or learning.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
to acquire [a skill/habit/quality]
He acquired fluency in French after living in Paris for two years.
Két év párizsi élet után folyékony francia nyelvtudásra tett szert.
Over time, she acquired the habit of waking up early.
Idővel rászokott a korán kelésre.
The dog has acquired some bad habits since we moved.
Young players can acquire valuable experience from international matches.
Learner examples
I want to acquire good study habits.
Szeretnék jó tanulási szokásokat kialakítani.
She acquired a love for music.
Idővel megszerette a zenét.
He acquired cooking skills from his mother.
They acquired bad habits from their friends.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'get' instead of 'acquire' in formal contexts when referring to skills or qualities.
Meaning
Develop a skill or trait
Collocations
acquire fluency
|acquire confidence
|acquire taste
|acquire habits
Synonyms
develop (Focuses on the process of growth rather than the act of obtaining.)
|
learn (Common for knowledge and abilities; more informal and broad.)
Antonyms
lose (Opposite when referring to no longer having a skill or quality.)
Themes
education
|personal development
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To get a new skill or habit by learning or practice.
To gain a particular skill, habit, or quality as a result of practice, experience, or gradual change.
Grammar
Dictionary form
acquire
IPA
GB/əkwˈaɪɚ/
US/əkwˈaɪɚ/
Syllables & stress
ac - quire (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (quire)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: acquire
- 3rd Person Singular: acquires
- Present Participle: acquiring
- Past: acquired
Word family
Forms
acquires
verb
acquiring
verb
acquired
verb
Core family
acquisition
noun B2
Related words
acquirer
noun
Negative and opposite forms
lose
verb A2
Advanced or less common
acquisitive
adjective
reacquire
verb
Expressions
acquire a taste for
1/əkwˈaɪɚ ə tˈeɪst fɚ/
fixed phrase
Start liking after exposure
To start liking something after trying it several times.
Examples
- I didn't like coffee at first, but I eventually acquired a taste for it.
- She has recently acquired a taste for spicy food.