French word

acquérir

Pronunciation

IPA/akeʁiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbgain

Example

Il a acquis beaucoup d'expérience ici.

He has gained a lot of experience here.

Illustration for acquérir (gain)

More examples

Il faut du temps pour acquérir de l'expérience.

It takes time to gain experience.

Core concept

A person steadily making an object, skill, or experience their own through effort, learning, purchase, or life.

Common phrases

  • acquérir de l'expérience

    gain experience

  • acquérir des connaissances

    acquire knowledge

Similar words

acheter: To pay money in order to obtain a product or service.
apprendre: To develop knowledge or ability through learning.
obtenir: To secure something or a result by taking action or following a procedure.
recevoir: To be given something or information by another person.

Definition in French

Obtenir quelque chose par effort, apprentissage, achat ou expérience, y compris l'acquisition de compétences.

Word origin

French acquérir descends from Latin acquirere, formed from ad- and quaerere, "to seek," with the sense of obtaining through seeking.

Usage tips

  • Its forms are irregular: j'acquiers, il acquiert, and the past participle is acquis, with feminine acquise.

Other meanings

  • obtainverb
  • learnverb
  • buyverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word