Definitions

acquire

[uh-kwahyuhr] / əˈkwaɪər /

VERB

obtain or receive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

achieve amass bring in buy collect earn gain get have pick up promote take win

STRONG

access annex attain catch cop corral gather grab land procure secure snag wangle

WEAK

get hands on get hold of latch onto lock up rack up scare up take possession of

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disperse divide fail forfeit give lose miss misunderstand pass scatter spend throw away

STRONG

give up let go release

WEAK

forgo relinquish surrender yield

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Each firm had to acquire a regulated futures exchange and develop a brand new offering.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

GSK will acquire cancer-drug developer Nuvalent for $10.6 billion, expanding its oncology business.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

GSK agrees to acquire cancer-drug developer Nuvalent for $10.6 billion, offering $124 a share in cash.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Johnson & Johnson agreed to acquire biotechnology company Firefly Bio for $1 billion in cash, bolstering its oncology pipeline.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Most academics can effortlessly dispense this kind of sludge, and many students, like Zonker Harris in this Doonesbury cartoon, acquire the skill without having to be taught.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Vocabulary lists containing acquire

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