acquired

USAGE SUMMARY

"acquired" is a perfectly valid and usable word in written English.
You can use "acquired" to refer to something that has been obtained through purchase, inheritance, or experience. For example: "The company recently acquired a new building in the city center."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The fact that he belongs to a family of "martyrs", and that he never left Iraq during Saddam's rule, have contributed to the high standing he has acquired among Shias.

The Guardian - Opinion

She enlisted Edgecombe for protection, and gave him a Luger pistol that she had acquired for the purpose.

The Guardian

Yet while ABT must be congratulating themselves on the prime showcase they have acquired for their smart dancers, one gloriously gossip-worthy consequence of putting a trio of megastar choreographers in the same show has been the necessary juggling of three mega egos.

The Guardian

The promontory itself was acquired by the government in the 1970s as a site for building oil rigs.

The Guardian - Travel

He has also acquired a reputation for brusqueness with journalists (he walked out of an interview with the Guardian in Iowa) and, unusually for an American politician, he hardly ever smiles.

The Guardian

France has offered a specialist team, while China said it would make available "any useful information acquired by its satellites and intelligence services".

The Guardian

Nigeria's recently acquired status as Africa's biggest economy hasn't helped.

The Guardian

At Amorikot, the first head swiftly acquired a local reputation for corruption, seriously undermining the trust between teachers and parents that is critical when parents pay the teachers' salaries.

The Guardian

Elizabeth Taylor, on the other hand, acquired blingy, expensive jewellery like nobody's business – "Big girls need big diamonds," she once said.

The Guardian - Arts

Had I miraculously acquired je ne sais quois?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When the conversion of numbers 1, 2 and 3 Cornwall Terrace – acquired last year for £120m by Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, one of the three wives of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former emir of Qatar – is complete, the resulting palace is expected to be London's first £200m-plus pad.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acquired" to indicate a formal or sustained effort to gain something, whether it's knowledge, property, or a skill.

Common error

Avoid using "acquired" when referring to traits passed down genetically; "inherited" is more appropriate in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "acquired" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "acquire". It is used to indicate that someone or something has come into possession of something, whether tangible or intangible. Ludwig AI confirms its regular usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "acquired" functions primarily as the past tense and past participle of the verb "acquire", signifying the act of gaining possession or mastery. Ludwig AI highlights that it is a versatile term suitable for use across various registers, with a strong presence in News & Media. While similar to terms like "obtained" and "gained", "acquired" often implies a more deliberate or sustained effort. When writing, remember to avoid using "acquired" when referring to inherited traits and reserve it for situations where something has been actively obtained or earned. With its neutral register and frequent usage, "acquired" remains a valuable and common word in the English lexicon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Obtained

Focuses on the act of getting or securing something, potentially through effort or purchase.

Gained

Emphasizes the process of gradually obtaining or earning something, often through effort or time.

Procured

Suggests a more formal or official method of obtaining something, often through careful planning or effort.

Attained

Highlights the achievement of reaching a certain level or obtaining a specific goal.

Earned

Implies obtaining something through hard work, service, or merit.

Secured

Focuses on making something safe or certain after obtaining it, reducing the risk of loss.

Received

Indicates the passive act of getting something, without necessarily implying effort.

Came into possession of

A more formal way of saying acquired, often used in legal or official contexts.

Took ownership of

Emphasizes the formal transfer of ownership from one party to another.

Inherited

Specifically refers to acquiring something from a deceased person through a will or by law.

FAQs

How to use "acquired" in a sentence?

You can use "acquired" to describe gaining possession of something tangible, such as "The company "acquired" a new building". It can also describe gaining intangible things, such as "She "acquired" a taste for classical music".

What can I say instead of "acquired"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "obtained", "gained", or "procured".

Which is correct, "acquired" or "obtained"?

"Acquired" and "obtained" are similar, but "acquired" often implies a more deliberate or sustained effort to gain something, while "obtained" is a more general term.

What's the difference between "acquired" and "inherited"?

"Acquired" refers to something gained through effort or purchase, while "inherited" refers to something received from a deceased person.