Acquires is a verb meaning to come into possession of something or to gain or obtain. In everyday use it often describes the act of obtaining knowledge, skills, or physical items. In formal contexts it can also imply steadily accumulating or acquiring rights, title, or power through action or experience.
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"The company acquires several smaller firms to expand its portfolio."
"She acquires new language skills by practicing daily."
"Over time, the museum acquires rare artifacts for its collection."
"He acquires a sense of confidence after years of challenging work."
Acquire entered English in the 14th century from Old French acquerre, from the Latin ad- plus quaerere “to seek, obtain.” The form underwent the spelling shift from acquer- to acquire as Middle English absorbed re- forms, aligning with Latin root quaerere. The sense broadened from “to secure” or “to capture” esoteric items (lands, goods) to more abstract and modern meanings like “to obtain possession of” or “to gain knowledge.” In early usage, acquire often carried legal or transactional connotations (property, titles), reflecting its roots in property transfer. The verb’s pronunciation shifted subtly over time as English vowels stabilized; the third-person singular simple present acquires the -s suffix pronounced as /ɪz/ in rapid speech. First known usage appears in Middle English sources around the 14th century, with later literary and legal documents cementing its common modern usage in both transitive and intransitive senses.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "acquires" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "acquires" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "acquires"
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Pronounce it as /əˈkwaɪərz/ in US and UK. The stress is on the second syllable: a-QUIRES. Start with a neutral schwa /ə/, glide into /kwaɪə/ with the vowel combo /aɪ/ as in
Common errors include de-stressing the second syllable, saying /ˈækwɪrz/ or /əˈkwaɪr/ without the final z sound. Some learners drop the /ɹ/ or merge /kwaɪə/ into /kwaɪ/. A precise tip: maintain a clear /ɹ/ at the end and pronounce the final /z/ as a voiced sibilant rather than a hiss. Think: a-kWI-ərz with a crisp final z.
In US and UK, the core is /əˈkwaɪərz/ with rhotics influencing surrounding vowels. US tends to have a stronger /ɹ/ and a slightly raised vowel before the r. UK can display a more centralized /ə/ and less pronounced r in non-rhotic contexts when followed by a vowel; in connected speech, you may hear linking /əˈkwaɪəz/. Australian speakers may reduce the /ɪə/ to a tighter /ɪə/ sequence and maintain an audible /ɹ/ in some registers.
The difficulty lies in blending the /kwaɪ/ diphthong with the /ər/ sequence before the final /z/. The /ɹ/ introduces rhotic coloration that can blur with the preceding vowel if not clearly separated. Additionally, the trailing /z/ must be voiced to avoid a hissy /s/. Practice the three-part mouth posture: start with a rounded /k/ release into /w/, glide through /aɪə/ and land on a crisp /z/.
Does 'acquires' have a subtle vowel reduction in rapid speech? Yes. In rapid connected speech, the initial /ə/ can be reduced further or elided in casual speech, yielding a nearly /ˈkwaɪərz/ in some informal contexts. However, careful enunciation keeps the schwa before the /kw/ and a clear /ər/ before the final /z/ to maintain intelligibility. Focus on the nucleus /aɪ/ and the rhotic /ɹ/ for strong, clear pronunciation.
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