acquire
[verb]
Synonyms: get, amass, attain, buy, collect, earn, gain, gather, obtain, receive, secure, win

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Antonyms: forfeit
Contrasted words: alienate, convey, transfer, abandon, relinquish, surrender, yield
Related Words: achieve, reach, add, accumulate, amass, collect, cumulate, garner

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English Thesaurus: buy, purchase, acquire, get, snap something up, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ac‧quire W2 AC /əˈkwaɪə $ əˈkwaɪr/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: verb: acquire; noun: acquisition; adjective: acquisitive]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: aquerre, from Latin acquirere, from ad- 'to' + quaerere 'to look for, obtain']

1. formal to obtain something by buying it or being given it:
Manning hoped to acquire valuable works of art as cheaply as possible.
She has acquired an email address and a site on the WorldWide Web.

2. to get or gain something:
The college acquired a reputation for very high standards.

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In everyday English, people usually say get rather than acquire:
Where did you get that tie?
He soon got a reputation for being unfriendly.

3. to gain knowledge or learn a skill:
He spent years acquiring his skills as a surgeon.
Elsie acquired a good knowledge of Chinese.

4. acquire a taste for something to begin to like something:
She had acquired a taste for European beer.

5. an acquired taste something that people only begin to like after they have tried it a few times

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

buy to pay money for something so that you can own it:
I’ve just bought a new car.
The painting was bought by a museum in New York.
purchase formal to buy something, especially something large or expensive, in a business deal or by a legal contract:
They purchased 5,000 acres of land.
acquire formal to become the owner of something large or expensive such as property, a company, or a valuable object:
In 2007 the business was acquired by a Dutch company.
Television companies were then allowed to acquire more stations.
get especially spoken to buy something, especially ordinary things such as food, clothes, or things for your house:
Did you remember to get some bread?
I never know what to get Dad for his birthday.
snap something up informal to buy something immediately, especially because it is very cheap, or because you want it very much and you are worried that someone else might buy it first:
Real estate in the area is being snapped up by developers.
pick something up informal to buy something, especially something ordinary such as food or a newspaper, or something that you have found by chance and are pleased about owning:
Could you pick up some milk on your way home?
It’s just a little thing I picked up when I was in Kathmandu.
stock up to buy a lot of something you use regularly, because you may not be able to buy it later, or because you are planning to use more of it than usual:
The supermarkets are full of people stocking up for the New Year’s holiday.
We always stock up on cheap wine when we go to France.
Before the blizzard, we stocked up on food.
splash out British English informal
, splurge American English informal to buy something you would not usually buy, because it is too expensive, in order to celebrate an event or make yourself feel good:
Why don’t you splash out on a new dress for the party?
We splurged on an expensive hotel for the last night of the vacation.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

get [not in passive] to get something by finding it, asking for it, or paying for it:
I’ve been trying to get some information.
She went to the bank to get some money.
obtain formal to get something:
Maps and guides can be obtained from the tourist office.
The newspaper has obtained a copy of the letter.
acquire formal to get something – used about knowledge, skills, or something big or expensive:
The course helps older people to acquire computing skills.
He acquired the property in 1985.
inherit to get someone’s money or property after they die:
Jo inherited a lot of money from her mother.
gain to get something useful or necessary, such as knowledge or experience:
I’ve gained a lot of useful experience.
The research helped us gain an insight into how a child’s mind works.
earn to get something because you deserve it:
He had earned a reputation as a peacemaker.
She earned a lot of respect from her colleagues.
get hold of something informal to get something that is rare or difficult to find:
I’m trying to get hold of a ticket for the game.
lay your hands on something informal to get something that you want very much or that you have spent a lot of time looking for:
I read every book I could lay my hands on.
increase noun [uncountable and countable] an occasion when the amount or number of something becomes bigger:
There has been a significant increase in violent crime over the past year.
price increases
growth noun [singular, uncountable] an increase in the number, size, or importance of something. Growth is also used when saying that a company or a country’s economy becomes more successful:
The astonishing growth of the Internet has had a dramatic effect on people’s lives.
Japan experienced a period of rapid economic growth.
Many people are concerned about the enormous growth in the world’s population.
rise noun [countable] an increase in the amount of something, or in the standard or level of something:
The latest figures show a sharp rise (=a sudden big rise) in unemployment in the region.
There was a 34 percent rise in the number of armed robberies.
The majority of families experienced a rise in living standards.
surge noun [countable usually singular] a sudden increase in something such as profits, demand, or interest:
There has been a big surge in demand for organically grown food.
We have seen a tremendous surge of interest in Chinese medicine.
hike noun [countable] informal especially American English a large or sudden increase in prices or taxes - often used in newspaper reports:
Despite a 25% hike in fuel costs, the airline made a profit last year.
tax hikes
wage hikes

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲