What does acquired mean?
Acquired is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'acquire', meaning to come into possession of something, typically through effort, purchase, or gradual accumulation. It can describe tangible things, such as property or artwork, and intangible ones, such as skills, habits, knowledge, or reputations. It also functions as an adjective describing traits that are developed rather than innate: an acquired taste is something appreciated only after exposure, and acquired immunity refers to resistance built up by the body rather than inherited. The word carries a neutral, slightly formal tone and appears frequently in business, legal, medical, and educational writing. Its Latin root, quaerere ('to seek'), connects it to a family of words including inquire, require, and quest, reflecting the underlying idea that gaining something usually begins with seeking it.
Past tense and past participle of acquire: to have come to possess or gain something.
"He acquired fluency in Spanish during his years abroad."
Developed, learned, or gained rather than innate or natural.
"A taste for black coffee is largely acquired."
From Latin quaerere, 'to seek' — every time you say you've acquired something, you're echoing an ancient Roman word for the act of searching.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acquired
Acquired derives from the Latin quaerere, meaning 'to seek' or 'to obtain', which passed into English via Old French acquerre and Middle French acquérir. The verb 'acquire' entered English in the late Middle Ages, and its past form 'acquired' has been used since then in both literal and figurative senses. It shares its Latin root with inquire, require, query, and quest, all of which preserve the sense of seeking.
Related word forms
How acquired is actually used
As a verb form it is neutral in register and common in both formal and everyday contexts. The adjectival sense often carries a connotation of effort or gradual development — an acquired taste or skill is one that was not immediate or instinctive.
Easily confused with acquired
'Inquired' means asked about or sought information, while 'acquired' means came to possess or gain something.