acquire interest

USAGE SUMMARY

"acquire interest" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe the process of becoming interested in something, typically after a period of study and/or thought. For example: "He had to spend some time researching the topic before he could acquire interest in it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Yet they acquire interest within the totality of Mr. Everson's film work and within the totality of the show — organized by the Whitney curator Chrissie Iles — which keeps generating surprises.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Newfield Exploration Company agreed yesterday to acquire interests in south Texas gas fields from an undisclosed seller for $142 million.

The New York Times

1974 The Whitlam government establishes the Aboriginal Land Fund to allow Aboriginal corporations to acquire interests in and occupy land, as part of its "self-determination" policy.

The Guardian

The chairman of Eskom, South Africa's state-owned power utility, said the company intended to acquire interests in electricity providers in other African countries, including neighboring Zimbabwe.

The New York Times

The Enron Corporation agreed yesterday to acquire interests in three power plants in New Jersey from the privately held Cogen Technologies for $1.1 billion plus assumed debt of $350 million.

The New York Times

The Retail Property Trust RPTT) is a private real estate investment trust (REIT) formed in 1986 to acquire interests in high-quality regional malls.

Columbia University

Ronald went on to become a feared and notorious corporate raider and LBO specialist, using MacAndrews & Forbes to acquire interests in cosmetics, entertainment, biotech and military equipment.

Forbes

A.P. Moller's subsidiary Maersk Olie og Gas will acquire interests in ten oil and gas fields, five of those as operator.

Forbes

As the companies acquire interests in milling, crushing and livestock operations, the overriding interest is to keep grain prices down.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

For example, foreign-based sugar interests divested themselves first of land and then of factories in Jamaica and Trinidad, and Jamaicans and Trinidadians acquired interest in foreign banks.

Britannica

In regions where it was already conducting business, the bank diversified its services and investments by acquiring interest in banks such as Hang Seng of Hong Kong in 1965, which soon became an important mortgage lender.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "acquire interest", consider the context. It often implies a deliberate or gradual process, so ensure it aligns with the intended meaning. For example, it works well when describing learning a new skill or exploring a field of study.

Common error

Avoid using "acquire interest" when a more direct term like "become interested" or "develop interest" would suffice. "Acquire" suggests a more active or effortful process, so it's not always the best choice for simply stating a preference or liking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire interest" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the action of gaining or developing a feeling of curiosity or concern about something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

20%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acquire interest" describes the process of developing curiosity or concern. Ludwig AI confirms it's a correct and usable phrase, although relatively rare in everyday language. It typically appears in neutral to formal contexts, such as news articles, academic papers, or business reports. While alternatives like "become interested" or "develop an interest" are more common, "acquire interest" suggests a more deliberate and gradual gaining of interest. When using "acquire interest", ensure the context aligns with this nuance, and consider whether a more direct alternative might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Develop an interest

Focuses on the gradual process of building interest.

Cultivate interest

Implies a deliberate effort to foster interest.

Gain an interest

Highlights the act of obtaining interest.

Awaken interest

Suggests a sudden spark of interest.

Become interested

A more general way of expressing the same idea.

Take an interest

Emphasizes the decision to focus on something.

Show an interest

Highlights the outward expression of interest.

Foster interest

Implies nurturing and promoting interest in something.

Attract interest

Focuses on something that naturally draws attention.

Spark interest

Emphasizes the sudden and exciting beginning of interest.

FAQs

How can I use "acquire interest" in a sentence?

You can use "acquire interest" to describe the process of becoming interested in a subject or activity through study or experience. For example, "He began to "acquire interest" in astronomy after taking a class."

What's a more common alternative to "acquire interest"?

While "acquire interest" is correct, phrases like "become interested", "develop an interest", or "get interested" are often more commonly used in everyday language.

Is it better to say "acquire interest in" or "acquire an interest in"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "acquire an interest in" is more common when referring to a specific area or topic. "Acquire interest in" is used more generally. For example, "She "acquired an interest in" history" is more specific than "She "acquired interest in" learning new things".

What's the difference between "acquire interest" and "earn interest"?

"Acquire interest" refers to becoming interested in something, while "earn interest" refers to gaining money on an investment or savings account. They are used in completely different contexts.