acquire significance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire significance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how something gains importance or meaning over time or through certain actions. Example: "As the project progressed, the initial ideas began to acquire significance in the context of our overall goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Rather, the motion and the Commission's communication will acquire significance in the light of a series of other decisions concerning the development of police cooperation.

EU Parlament

Memories accrete like pearls around these small things, which acquire significance not as things themselves but as keys that unlock, for our adult selves, a brief reliving of what it was to be so young - so vulnerable, so vibrant, just discovering the world and our own selves within it.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Once the tone acquires significance as a threat, it remains so throughout the life of the rat.

The New York Times

Analysis of CUB helps in understanding evolution at molecular level and acquires significance in mRNA translation, design of transgenes and new gene discovery.

Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology

St . Vincents acquired significance for many New Yorkers in the days after Sept. 11, 2001, when it became a gathering place for people searching for loved ones.

The New York Times

The near-unchallenged master of English prose sets this adventure in New York, where Psmith pays a social visit that acquires significance when he falls in with the acting editor of the floundering journal Cosy Moments.

The Guardian - Books

It was during the reign of the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick I Barbarossa (1152 90) that the terms Guelf and Ghibelline acquired significance in Italy, as that emperor tried to reassert imperial authority over northern Italy by force of arms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the context of efforts to map the boundaries of religious tolerance with respect to political office and voting rights, new distinctions between religion and irreligion acquired significance and old distinctions between Christianity and other religions began to blur.

Johns Hopkins University

An anxiety level as a state, assessed according to STAI X-1 with reference to an increasing risk of choosing nTOS, acquires significance together with its intensity.

BioMed Research International

That OFC neurons developed robust responses to such a valueless cue indicates that many OFC neurons more than half of the population responsive to the acquired significance of the cues represent associative features that must be, strictly speaking, independent of general or common value.

eLife

This example illustrates that perceptual cues are seldom ecologically relevant by themselves, but rather acquire their significance through their meaning about their causes.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acquire significance" when you want to emphasize the process of something gradually becoming important or meaningful over time. This is particularly useful when discussing historical events, scientific discoveries, or evolving trends.

Common error

Avoid using "acquire significance" interchangeably with phrases like "have significance" if the subject already possesses the importance. "Acquire significance" denotes a change or progression, not a static state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire significance" functions as a verb phrase where "acquire" (verb) acts upon "significance" (noun). This indicates an action of gaining or developing importance. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acquire significance" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that describes the process of something becoming important or meaningful. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous real-world examples demonstrating its usage across diverse contexts like News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. Alternative phrases like "gain importance" or "attain relevance" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. While versatile, remember to reserve "acquire significance" for situations where the subject's importance is actually increasing, differentiating it from simply "having significance".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain importance

Focuses on the increase in importance rather than the acquisition of significance.

attain relevance

Highlights the achievement of relevance, suggesting a more targeted outcome.

assume importance

Suggests a taking on of importance, implying a more passive role.

develop relevance

Implies a gradual process of becoming relevant.

take on meaning

Emphasizes the acquisition of meaning, shifting the focus from overall significance.

grow in stature

Suggests an increase in reputation or influence, rather than just significance.

become prominent

Focuses on visibility and recognition, implying a higher profile.

accrue value

Emphasizes the accumulation of worth, shifting the focus to a more quantifiable gain.

gather momentum

Suggests an increase in speed and force, implying a more active process.

establish noteworthiness

Implies building a reputation for being worthy of attention, which slightly differs from gaining significance.

FAQs

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

You can use "acquire significance" to describe how something gains importance or meaning. For example, "The historical document began to acquire significance as scholars uncovered new information about its origins."

What are some alternatives to "acquire significance"?

Alternatives include "gain importance", "attain relevance", or "assume importance depending on the context".

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

"Acquire significance" indicates a process of gaining importance over time, while "have significance" suggests something already possesses importance. The correct choice depends on whether you're describing a change or a static state.

What's the difference between "acquire significance" and "take on meaning"?

"Acquire significance" implies a broader increase in importance or relevance, while "take on meaning" focuses specifically on the development of a particular meaning. They are similar, but "take on meaning" is more directly related to interpretation.