acquaintance
gb/əkwˈeɪntəns/ us/əkwˈeɪntəns/
B1
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Person known slightly
Someone you have met but do not know well.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s acquaintance
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'acquaintance' with 'friend', but 'acquaintance' implies less closeness.
Synonyms
contact (Often used in professional or networking contexts, not necessarily implying personal familiarity.)
Antonyms
close friend (A person with whom you have a deep and personal relationship, opposite of a casual connection.)
Collocations
a casual acquaintance
|make someone's acquaintance
|an old acquaintance
|a business acquaintance
Themes
daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I met an interesting acquaintance at the conference last week.
- She ran into an old acquaintance from high school.
- He's more of a business acquaintance than a personal friend.
- We became acquaintances after working on the same project.
- I have a few acquaintances in the city who could help.
Learner examples
- I saw an old acquaintance at the store.
- He is just an acquaintance from my class.
- I met a new acquaintance yesterday.
- She is an acquaintance, not a close friend.
Noun
formal
B2
state
2
Knowledge of something
When you know about something because you have learned or experienced it.
Usage pattern:
acquaintance with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'acquaintance' here to mean 'friend', which is incorrect; in this sense, it means knowledge or familiarity.
Synonyms
familiarity (Implies a comfortable and detailed knowledge, which may be deeper than 'acquaintance'.)
Antonyms
ignorance (The state of having no knowledge or awareness of something.)
Collocations
have an acquaintance with
|gain acquaintance with
|show acquaintance with
Themes
education
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He has some acquaintance with Japanese culture.
- My acquaintance with the law is limited.
- The job requires an acquaintance with basic computer programs.
- Her brief acquaintance with the city made her feel comfortable navigating it.
- The course provides students with an acquaintance with modern art.
Learner examples
- I have some acquaintance with Spanish grammar.
- She has little acquaintance with city life.
- He gained acquaintance with the rules quickly.
- Her acquaintance with the subject helped her answer questions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
acquaintance
IPA
GB/əkwˈeɪntəns/
US/əkwˈeɪntəns/
Syllables & stress
ac - quaint - ance (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (quaint)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: acquaintance
- Plural: acquaintance, acquaintances
Word family
Forms
acquaintances
noun
Core family
acquainted
adjective
Related words
acquaint
verb B2
Negative and opposite forms
unacquainted
adjective
Expressions
become acquainted with
1/bɪkˈʌm əkwˈeɪntɪd wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
Start knowing someone/something
To start to know a person or learn about something.
Examples
- It took me some time to become acquainted with the new system.
- They became acquainted with each other during the trip.
have a passing acquaintance with
1/hˈæv ə pˈæsɪŋ əkwˈeɪntəns wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
Slight knowledge of something/someone
To know only a little about someone or something.
Examples
- I have only a passing acquaintance with Italian history.
- She has a passing acquaintance with the local customs.
make someone's acquaintance
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌnz əkwˈeɪntəns/
fixed phrase
formal
Meet someone for first time
To meet someone for the first time and start knowing them a little.
Examples
- I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.
- Yesterday I had the pleasure of making her acquaintance.