What does acquisitively mean?
"Acquisitively" is an adverb describing behaviour driven by a strong desire to acquire and possess things, particularly wealth or material goods. Someone who looks at an object acquisitively does so with evident covetousness or greed, sizing it up as something to be gained. The word derives from "acquisitive," which comes ultimately from the Latin verb quaerere, meaning "to seek" — the same root underlying "acquire," "acquisition," and "inquiry." In tone, "acquisitively" is formal to literary and usually carries a disapproving connotation, suggesting grasping materialism rather than healthy ambition. It appears most often in descriptive prose about people eyeing possessions, markets, or opportunities with naked appetite. A useful word for writers who want to convey eagerness shaded with greed in a single, precise stroke.
adverbIn a manner characterized by a strong desire to acquire and possess things; greedily or eagerly, especially with respect to money or material goods.
- In a manner showing a strong desire to acquire and possess wealth or material goods.
- (By extension) eagerly or keenly, as if intent on gaining possession of something.
"He eyed the rare first editions acquisitively, already calculating what they might cost."
"The collectors moved acquisitively through the estate sale, snapping up anything of value."
"She glanced acquisitively at her colleague's corner office, imagining herself behind that desk."
The word traces back to Latin quaerere, 'to seek' — the same root that gives us 'question' and 'inquiry', except an acquisitive person is only ever asking one thing: 'what's in it for me?'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acquisitively
"Acquisitively" derives from the adjective "acquisitive," formed from the Latin acquisitus, the past participle of acquirere, meaning "to acquire" — itself built from ad- ("toward") plus quaerere ("to seek"). English adopted "acquisitive" in the early nineteenth century, and the adverb followed shortly after. The root quaerere also gives English "inquiry," "requisite," and "question," making "acquisitively" a distant cousin of words about seeking and asking.
Related word forms
How acquisitively is actually used
Formal to literary in register; rarely used in casual conversation. It typically carries a negative connotation of greed or grasping materialism, though it can occasionally be used more neutrally to describe keen eagerness.
Easily confused with acquisitively
'Inquisitively' means with curiosity or a desire to learn or question, while 'acquisitively' means with a desire to acquire or possess things.