acquire to buy or obtain sth.esp.sth.expensive or difficult to get The museum has managed to acquire an important work of curiosity appreciation. How did you acquire the Rolex? to learn or develop knowledge,skills etc by your own efforts,or to become well known because of your abilities The ability to use a language can be acquired only by the act of using the language. acquire • to buy or obtain sth. esp. sth. expensive or difficult to get The museum has managed to acquire an important work of curiosity appreciation. How did you acquire the Rolex? • to learn or develop knowledge, skills etc by your own efforts, or to become well known because of your abilities The ability to use a language can be acquired only by the act of using the language