English verb: acquire | |||
1. | acquire (possession) come into the possession of something concrete or abstract | ||
Samples | She got a lot of paintings from her uncle. They acquired a new pet. Get your results the next day. Get permission to take a few days off from work. | ||
Examples | The children acquire the ball | ||
Synonyms | get | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Somebody ----s something from somebody | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | accept, acquire, benefit, borrow, bring in, buy, buy, call for, capture, catch, catch, charter, clear, collect, come by, come into, come up, come upon, earn, earn, engage, enter upon, express, extract, find, find, find, find, gain, gain, gain, garner, gather up, get, get back, get hold, glom, have, have, hire, inherit, isolate, lease, line up, luck into, make, obtain, partake, partake in, pick up, pick up, poll, preempt, preempt, press out, profit, pull in, purchase, realise, realize, receive, reclaim, recoup, recover, recover, recuperate, regain, regain, rent, repossess, retrieve, share, take, take, take in, turn, win, win back | ||
Verb group | find, get, incur, obtain, receive | ||
2. | acquire (change) take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect | ||
Samples | His voice took on a sad tone. The story took a new turn. He adopted an air of superiority. She assumed strange manners. The gods assume human or animal form in these fables. | ||
Synonyms | adopt, assume, take, take on | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | re-assume | ||
3. | acquire (body) come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes) | ||
Samples | He grew a beard. The patient developed abdominal pains. I got funny spots all over my body. Well-developed breasts. | ||
Synonyms | develop, get, grow, produce | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | cut, feather, fledge, get up, leaf, pod, pupate, regrow, spring, sprout, stock, stool, teethe, tiller, work up | ||
Verb group | acquire, develop, evolve | ||
4. | acquire (stative) locate (a moving entity) by means of a tracking system such as radar | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | locate, situate | ||
5. | acquire (possession) win something through one's efforts | ||
Samples | I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese. Gain an understanding of international finance. | ||
Synonyms | gain, win | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s something from somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | acquire, get | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | cozen | ||
Antonyms | lose | ||
6. | acquire (cognition) gain knowledge or skills | ||
Samples | She learned dancing from her sister. I learned Sanskrit. Children acquire language at an amazing rate. | ||
Synonyms | larn, learn | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s PP. Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | absorb, assimilate, catch up, hit the books, ingest, relearn, study, take in | ||
7. | acquire (change) gain through experience | ||
Samples | I acquired a strong aversion to television. Children must develop a sense of right and wrong. Dave developed leadership qualities in his new position. Develop a passion for painting. | ||
Synonyms | develop, evolve | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Verb group | acquire, develop, develop, develop, develop, explicate, formulate, get, grow, produce | ||