acute
gb/əkjˈut/ us/əkjˈut/
B2
English
~ 5700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
very severe or intense (problem/pain)
Very strong or very serious, especially when talking about pain or a difficult problem.
Usage pattern:
acute [problem/pain/need/shortage]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'acute' with 'cute' because they look similar. 'Cute' means 'pretty' or 'attractive in a small way'; 'acute' here means 'very serious' or 'very strong'. Also, learners may overuse 'acute' in everyday speech; in conversation, 'very bad' or 'really serious' is often more natural.
Synonyms
severe (The most common alternative in this sense; often used for strong pain or serious problems in both everyday and medical contexts.)
|
intense (Focuses on how strongly something is felt, especially emotions or physical sensations.)
Antonyms
mild (Describes pain or problems that are not strong or serious, the opposite of 'acute' in this sense.)
Collocations
acute pain
|acute problem
|acute shortage
|acute crisis
|acute anxiety
|acute embarrassment
Themes
health
|problems
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The city is facing an acute housing shortage.
- She felt acute embarrassment when she forgot her lines on stage.
- Patients often experience acute pain in the first hours after surgery.
- The problem is particularly acute in low-income neighborhoods.
- There is an acute need for clean drinking water after the flood.
Learner examples
- He has acute pain in his back.
- There is an acute need for more doctors here.
- The country has an acute food shortage this year.
- Her fear was very acute during the storm.
- This is an acute problem for young people in this area.
adjective
technical
C1
property
2
sudden and severe but short (medical)
Used about an illness or medical problem that comes on suddenly and is very serious, but does not last a long time.
Usage pattern:
acute [illness/infection/condition]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'acute' in medical contexts only means 'very bad'. It also contrasts with 'chronic': an acute illness is short-term and sudden, while a chronic illness is long-term, even if it is not very strong at every moment.
Synonyms
sudden (Emphasizes the quick start of the illness, but does not itself imply medical classification like 'acute' does.)
Antonyms
chronic (The standard medical opposite; describes illnesses that last for a long time or keep coming back.)
Collocations
acute illness
|acute infection
|acute condition
|acute appendicitis
|acute phase
|acute care
Themes
health
|science
Examples
- The patient was admitted with acute appendicitis and required immediate surgery.
- Acute infections are treated differently from chronic diseases.
- The hospital specializes in acute care for heart attack patients.
- During the acute phase of the illness, she needed constant monitoring.
- Smoking increases the risk of both acute and chronic respiratory conditions.
Learner examples
- He went to the hospital with acute stomach pain.
- The doctor said it was an acute infection, not a long illness.
- She needed acute care after the accident.
- This medicine is for acute headache, not for daily use.
- They studied acute and chronic lung problems in the clinic.
adjective
C1
property
3
mentally or perceptually sharp
Very good at seeing, feeling, or understanding small details that other people may miss.
Usage pattern:
an acute [mind/observer/awareness/sense of smell]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'acute' here means 'smart' in a general way. It more specifically means 'very sensitive' or 'very good at noticing or understanding small details'. In everyday speech, 'sharp' or 'very smart' is often more natural.
Synonyms
keen (Very close in meaning; common in phrases like 'keen mind' or 'keen sense of smell'.)
|
sharp (Focuses on intelligence or quick understanding; slightly more informal in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
dull (Can describe a mind or senses that are slow or not sensitive; the opposite of mentally or perceptually sharp.)
Collocations
acute mind
|acute awareness
|acute sense of smell
|acute observer
|acute insight
Themes
intellect
|senses
|core_vocabulary
|education
Examples
- She has an acute mind and quickly spotted the weakness in the argument.
- Dogs have an acute sense of smell, far stronger than humans.
- His acute awareness of social cues makes him an excellent negotiator.
- The novel offers an acute analysis of modern family life.
- Even in old age, his hearing remained remarkably acute.
Learner examples
- He is an acute observer of human behavior.
- Her acute mind helps her solve problems fast.
- Owls have an acute sense of hearing.
- The teacher had an acute understanding of her students' needs.
- Police need an acute eye for small details.
adjective
technical
B2
property
4
angle smaller than 90 degrees
In math, used for an angle that is smaller than a right angle (smaller than 90 degrees).
Usage pattern:
an acute [angle/triangle]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'acute' and 'obtuse' angles. Remember: acute angles are the 'small' ones (less than 90°); obtuse angles are 'big' (more than 90° but less than 180°).
Synonyms
sharp (angle) (An informal description sometimes used by teachers, but not the standard mathematical term.)
Antonyms
obtuse (In geometry, an 'obtuse angle' is greater than 90° and less than 180°, the opposite of an acute angle.)
Collocations
acute angle
|acute triangle
|acute-angled triangle
|acute and obtuse angles
Themes
math
|science
|education
Examples
- In this triangle, all three angles are acute.
- An angle of 30 degrees is an acute angle.
- The teacher drew an acute angle on the board and asked us to measure it.
- Any angle less than 90 degrees is classified as acute.
- The diagram shows both acute and obtuse angles.
Learner examples
- This is an acute angle because it is less than 90 degrees.
- A 45-degree angle is acute.
- In this picture, only the top angle is acute.
- The math book explains what an acute angle is.
- We had to find all the acute angles in the shape.
adjective
technical
C2
property
5
high-pitched or shrill (sound)
Used for a sound that is high and sharp, not low or deep.
Usage pattern:
an acute [tone/sound/voice]
Common mistake:
In everyday English, 'high-pitched' or 'sharp' is more common than 'acute' for sounds. Learners may sound overly formal or unusual if they use 'acute' in normal conversation for this meaning.
Synonyms
high-pitched (Common everyday term for sounds with high frequency; more usual than 'acute' in non-technical contexts.)
|
shrill (Suggests a high, often unpleasant sound; includes emotional or negative connotations that 'acute' does not always have.)
Antonyms
low-pitched (Describes sounds with low frequency, the opposite of high or acute pitch.)
Collocations
acute tone
|acute sound
|acute pitch
|acute voice
Themes
sound
|music
|arts_entertainment
|education
Examples
- The instrument produces an acute tone that cuts through the orchestra.
- Phonetic descriptions sometimes refer to acute sounds as being higher than grave sounds.
- Her laughter had an acute quality that was easily heard across the room.
Learner examples
- The bird made an acute sound in the tree.
- His voice became more acute when he was excited.
- This bell has a very acute tone.
adjective
technical
C2
property
6
marked with an acute accent
Having the small mark ´ over a letter, used in some languages to show stress or a different sound.
Usage pattern:
an acute [accent/mark] on [letter]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the acute accent (´) with the grave accent (`). The acute accent slopes up from left to right and is often used to mark stress or a different vowel sound.
Synonyms
accented (with an acute) (Describes a letter that carries the mark, but does not specify the type of accent unless you add 'acute'.)
Antonyms
grave (Refers to the grave accent (`), which slopes the opposite way; often contrasted with 'acute' in discussions of accent marks.)
Collocations
acute accent
|acute mark
|acute sign
|accent acute
Themes
language
|writing
|communication
|education
Examples
- In the word 'café', the 'e' carries an acute accent.
- French learners must pay attention to the difference between acute and grave accents.
- The editor asked the typesetter to add the missing acute mark over the final vowel.
Learner examples
- The letter 'é' has an acute accent.
- In some words, you must write an acute mark on the vowel.
- This dictionary shows which vowels take an acute accent.
Grammar
Dictionary form
acute
IPA
GB/əkjˈut/
US/əkjˈut/
Syllables & stress
acute (1 syllable)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: acute
- Comparative: acuter
- Superlative: acutest
Word family
Expressions
acute accent
1/əkjˈut ˈæksˌɛnt/
fixed phrase
technical
the ´ accent mark
The small mark ´ that is written over a letter in some languages to show stress or a special sound.
Examples
- In Spanish, an acute accent can change the meaning of a word.
- The word should be written with an acute accent on the final vowel.
acute angle
1/əkjˈut ˈæŋɡəl/
fixed phrase
technical
angle smaller than a right angle
An angle that is smaller than a right angle; its size is more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.
Examples
- Draw an acute angle and label it with its measurement.
- The triangle has one acute angle and two obtuse angles.
acute illness
1/əkjˈut ˈɪlnəs/
fixed phrase
technical
sudden, severe, short-term illness
An illness that starts suddenly and is very serious, but usually does not last a long time.
Examples
- She was hospitalized with an acute illness after returning from her trip.
- The clinic focuses on treating acute illnesses such as severe infections.
acute pain
1/əkjˈut pˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
very strong, often sudden pain
Very strong physical pain that is often sudden and short-term.
Examples
- He felt acute pain in his chest and called an ambulance immediately.
- After the operation, she experienced acute pain in her shoulder.
acute shortage
1/əkjˈut ʃˈɔɹtɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
very serious lack of something
A very serious lack of something important, such as food, water, or housing.
Examples
- There is an acute shortage of affordable housing in the city.
- The war has caused an acute shortage of basic medicines.