acquire meaning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire meaning" is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something coming to have or be given a specific interpretation. For example: "The symbols on the ancient wall were thought to be meaningless, until further research revealed they had acquired meaning over time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Moving effortlessly between the intimate and the grand, Stille shows how our lives acquire meaning "because we are part of and express the times in which we live".

The New Yorker

The doctrine that all scientific language must acquire meaning via "operational definitions" in terms of measurement procedures and the like constitutes a reductionist form of scientific antirealism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Matthew Simpson, a policy strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said the technology was easy to acquire, meaning people outside a school might be able to monitor a student if they obtained the student's unique tracking number.

The New York Times

"The objects themselves are secondary and only acquire meaning from their context and the knowledge that comes with it," wrote Lord Colin Renfrew, a British archaeologist, in a rebuttal to Mr. Shanks.

The New York Times

Likewise, this debate will acquire meaning only as the first of three, and the one furthest from the end-game, and will have persuasive effect only as a point of comparison with what comes later.

University of California, Berkeley

The ACLU said there are no "meaningful constraints" to what a local police force could acquire, meaning that even a 10,000 person town with no history of major violence could request and receive a mine-resistant vehicle, like those that are currently available on the LESO site.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The new filing, however, lists the acquisition prices as "net of cash acquired," meaning it's taking into account the cash and liabilities the acquired companies had on the books at the time of their deals.

TechCrunch

"I felt like my life had acquired meaning".

The New York Times

The ethicist had spoken, then, about the ways that a life acquires meaning.

The New York Times - Magazine

Clothes suddenly acquired meaning (think of the efforts to "decode" a Helmut Lang show or almost any by Martin Margiela).

The New York Times

He went on to say that it is by how we live and love and, yes, do science, that the universe warms up and acquires meaning.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acquire meaning" when describing how something develops or is given a specific interpretation or understanding. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is gaining meaning and from where that meaning is derived.

Common error

Avoid using "acquire meaning" without clearly identifying the source or context that provides the meaning. Ambiguity can arise if it's unclear how or why something gains significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire meaning" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "acquire" acts as the main verb and "meaning" serves as the direct object. It indicates the action of something coming to possess or be given a particular interpretation, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acquire meaning" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe how something comes to possess significance or understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid and applicable in many contexts. While not extremely common, it finds its place in news, science, and academic writing, suggesting a neutral register. When using "acquire meaning", ensure clarity about what is gaining meaning and the source from which the meaning originates. Consider alternatives like "gain significance" or "take on meaning" to fine-tune your expression. It's a versatile phrase for explaining how concepts, symbols, or events develop their interpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain significance

Focuses on the aspect of increasing importance rather than the development of understanding.

take on meaning

Emphasizes the act of assuming or adopting meaning, suggesting a more active process.

develop significance

Highlights the gradual growth of importance over time.

attain relevance

Stresses becoming applicable or pertinent in a specific context.

become meaningful

Indicates a transformation from being without meaning to being full of it.

garner importance

Suggests an accumulation or gathering of significance from various factors.

accrue significance

Similar to 'garner importance' but suggests a more gradual and incremental increase in significance.

achieve meaning

Implies effort or action taken to obtain a certain meaning.

evoke understanding

Shifts the focus from the object acquiring meaning to its ability to generate understanding in others.

crystallize meaning

This alternative conveys a sense of solidifying or clarifying a meaning that was previously vague or unclear.

FAQs

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

You can use "acquire meaning" to describe how something gains significance or understanding over time. For example, "The ancient symbols gradually "took on meaning" as scholars deciphered their context."

What's a good substitute for "acquire meaning"?

Alternatives include "gain significance", "take on meaning", or "become meaningful", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "acquire meaning" or "acquire significance"?

While both are grammatically correct, "acquire meaning" emphasizes understanding or interpretation, whereas "acquire significance" highlights increasing importance. Choose the phrase that best fits the intended emphasis.

In what contexts is "acquire meaning" most appropriately used?

"Acquire meaning" is suitable in academic, scientific, and news contexts when discussing how concepts, symbols, or events develop specific interpretations or relevance. It's less common in casual conversation.