Acquire vs. Aquire — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 19, 2024
The correct spelling is "Acquire," meaning to gain possession or knowledge of something. "Aquire" is an incorrect spelling.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Acquire or Aquire
How to spell Acquire?
Acquire
Correct Spelling
Aquire
Incorrect Spelling
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Key Differences
It starts with "Ac-" just like "Actual," both involve facts or realities.
"Acquire" has a "c" like "collect," and you collect things when you acquire them.
When in doubt, remember "I acquire, so it has an 'I' in the middle."
Think of "Quiet," which also has the same "ui" vowel combination.
"Acquire" has two vowels in the middle, making it stronger and able to acquire more.
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How Do You Spell Aquire Correctly?
Incorrect: Can we aquire more information before making a decision?
Correct: Can we acquire more information before making a decision?
Incorrect: The company aims to aquire several smaller startups.
Correct: The company aims to acquire several smaller startups.
Incorrect: She has a passion to aquire knowledge about history.
Correct: She has a passion to acquire knowledge about history.
Incorrect: I'm trying to aquire new skills this year.
Correct: I'm trying to acquire new skills this year.
Incorrect: They attempted to aquire the rights to the music.
Correct: They attempted to acquire the rights to the music.
Acquire Definitions
To obtain ownership of an object.
She managed to acquire a rare book.
To gain through experience or effort.
He acquired proficiency in three languages.
To come into possession of.
The company acquired another smaller business.
To locate and hold a target in radar.
The system was able to acquire the enemy aircraft quickly.
To achieve a skill or qualification.
She acquired a degree in engineering.
Acquire is a multi-player mergers and acquisitions themed board game. It is played with tiles representing hotels that are arranged on the board, play money and stock certificates.
To gain possession of
Acquire 100 shares of stock.
To get by one's own efforts
Acquire proficiency in math.
To gain through experience; come by
Acquired a growing dislike of television sitcoms.
To locate (a target) with an aiming device or a tracking system, such as radar.
(transitive) To get.
(transitive) To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own
He acquired a title.
All the riches he acquired were from hard work.
One should acquire as much knowledge as possible from reading.
To acquire a skill
To acquire decent habits and manners
(medicine) To contract.
(computing) To sample signals and convert them into digital values.
To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own; as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits.
No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step.
Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, acquires his estate, by right of representation, as his heir at law.
Come into the possession of something concrete or abstract;
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
Take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect;
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
Come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes);
He grew a beard
The patient developed abdominal pains
I got funny spots all over my body
Well-developed breasts
Locate (a moving entity) by means of a tracking system such as radar
Win something through one's efforts;
I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese
Gain an understanding of international finance
Acquire or gain knowledge or skills;
She learned dancing from her sister
I learned Sanskrit
Children acquire language at an amazing rate
Gain through experience;
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
Acquire Meaning in a Sentence
The museum managed to acquire a rare painting.
The company's goal is to acquire more market share.
You can acquire these books at any major bookstore.
To succeed, one must acquire discipline and determination.
You need to acquire permission before using this facility.
They're looking to acquire a house in the countryside.
He wants to acquire a new language by next year.
She's been trying to acquire a taste for coffee.
It's important to acquire good habits early in life.
Many people go to college to acquire new skills.
They're eager to acquire knowledge about different cultures.
She managed to acquire a rare edition of her favorite book.
Young children acquire language skills rapidly.
It's possible to acquire happiness by appreciating the little things.
The team is looking to acquire a top player during the offseason.
One can acquire wisdom through experience.
They had to acquire special equipment for the research project.
She hopes to acquire a new car by saving her earnings.
To acquire respect, you must first show respect to others.
It's a challenge to acquire a balance between work and life.
He aimed to acquire a healthier lifestyle by changing his diet.
It took him years to acquire proficiency in Japanese.
You'll need to acquire a license to start your business.
Artists often travel to acquire inspiration for their work.
Acquire Idioms & Phrases
Acquire the knack
To learn how to do something competently.
After a few tries, he acquired the knack of riding a skateboard.
Acquire a reputation
To become known for something.
She quickly acquired a reputation as a skilled debater.
Acquire a taste
To begin to like something that one disliked before.
I didn't like olives at first, but I've acquired a taste for them now.
Acquire by heart
To learn something so well that it can be written or recited without thinking.
He acquired the poem by heart for the competition.
Acquire a following
To gain supporters or enthusiasts.
The band acquired a following with their catchy tunes.
Acquire the spotlight
To become the center of attention.
The young singer acquired the spotlight with her amazing performance.
Acquire the edge
To gain an advantage.
By studying hard, she acquired the edge over her classmates.
Acquire one's fortune
To gain wealth.
He acquired his fortune through smart investments.
Acquire the habit
To develop a regular tendency or practice.
She acquired the habit of jogging every morning.
Acquire hands-on experience
To gain practical experience in a particular field.
Internships help students acquire hands-on experience.
Acquire a new lease on life
To become more energetic and start anew.
After the surgery, he felt like he'd acquired a new lease on life.
Acquire fame
To become famous.
The artist acquired fame for her unique painting style.
Acquire a feel for
To develop a natural ability or intuition for something.
You'll acquire a feel for baking with more practice.
Acquire new heights
To reach new levels of success.
The athlete acquired new heights in her career last year.
Acquire wisdom
To gain knowledge and insight.
One can acquire wisdom through both success and failure.
Acquire approval
To gain acceptance or consent.
The new policy acquired approval from the board.
Acquire a sense of
To develop an understanding or awareness of something.
Traveling helps you acquire a sense of other cultures.
Acquire the taste of victory
To experience success.
The team acquired the taste of victory after winning the championship.
Acquire one's bearings
To determine one's position or situation relative to one's surroundings.
After arriving in the new city, it took him a day to acquire his bearings.
Acquire a voice
To find the opportunity to express oneself.
Through writing, she acquired a voice that was uniquely hers.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Acquire?
It comes from Latin "acquirere," meaning to seek in addition to.
Which vowel is used before Acquire?
It depends on the context; could be 'a,' 'e,' or 'o' etc.
What is the plural form of Acquire?
Not applicable since it's a verb.
What is the pronunciation of Acquire?
/əˈkwaɪər/
What is the root word of Acquire?
The root word is "acquir-" from Latin "acquirere."
Which conjunction is used with Acquire?
"And" or "or," depending on the sentence.
Which article is used with Acquire?
Generally no article since it is a verb.
What is the singular form of Acquire?
"Acquire" is already singular, as it is a verb.
What is the verb form of Acquire?
"Acquire" is already a verb.
Which preposition is used with Acquire?
Generally "of" or "from," as in "acquire from" or "acquire of."
Is Acquire a noun or adjective?
Verb.
Is Acquire a collective noun?
No.
Is the word “Acquire” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
As a verb, it can have a direct object.
Is Acquire an adverb?
No.
Is Acquire a vowel or consonant?
It is a word containing both vowels and consonants.
Is Acquire a countable noun?
It's not a noun.
What is a stressed syllable in Acquire?
The second syllable, "quire," is stressed.
What part of speech is Acquire?
Verb.
What is another term for Acquire?
Obtain, gain, secure.
Is the word Acquire imperative?
It can be used in an imperative sentence, like "Acquire the asset now."
How many syllables are in Acquire?
Two syllables.
What is the opposite of Acquire?
Lose, relinquish.
Which determiner is used with Acquire?
Generally no determiner as it's a verb.
What is the second form of Acquire?
Acquired.
Is the Acquire term a metaphor?
No, unless used metaphorically.
Is the word Acquire a Gerund?
No, "acquiring" is the gerund form.
What is the first form of Acquire?
Acquire.
What is the third form of Acquire?
Acquired.
Is Acquire an abstract noun?
No.
Is Acquire a negative or positive word?
Generally neutral; context determines the connotation.
How do we divide Acquire into syllables?
Ac-quire.
How is Acquire used in a sentence?
"The museum plans to acquire new artifacts next year."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.