Quick answer: Acquire often implies gradual effort, growth, or accumulation over time: She acquired fluency in Spanish over three years. Obtain focuses on successfully getting something through a specific action or request: He obtained a visa before travelling. When in doubt: ACQUIRE = gradual accumulation; OBTAIN = secured by action. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘acquire’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| acquire | verb | to come to have something through effort, experience, or gradual process | She acquired new skills during the course. |
| obtain | verb | to get or secure something through deliberate action or request | He obtained permission from the manager. |
Using Acquire
Acquire suggests that getting something involved effort, growth, or accumulation — often over time. It is frequently used with skills, habits, knowledge, tastes, property, and companies. The process implied by acquire is often gradual rather than instantaneous.
Children acquire language naturally in their first years of life.
The museum acquired several paintings from the estate sale.
He had acquired a taste for strong coffee during his time in Italy.
The company acquired its main competitor last year.
Notice how each example involves growth, time, or meaningful accumulation. You would not say “she acquired a bus ticket” — that is a simple instant transaction where obtain or get fits better.
An Acquired Taste
The fixed phrase an acquired taste — meaning something one comes to enjoy only after initial unfamiliarity — always uses acquired, never obtained. This phrase alone captures the word’s core idea of gradual acceptance.
Olives are an acquired taste.
Jazz is something of an acquired taste.
Using Obtain
Obtain is more neutral and focuses on the act of successfully getting something, usually through a specific effort, request, or procedure. It is formal and common in official, academic, and business contexts. Unlike acquire, it does not necessarily imply a long process.
You must obtain a permit before starting construction.
The detective was able to obtain a confession.
Students can obtain a copy of the report from the library.
She obtained a first-class degree after four years of study.
Obtain in Formal and Legal Writing
In legal, official, and academic writing, obtain is strongly preferred over informal get. Common phrases include: obtain evidence, obtain consent, obtain a court order, obtain approval.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Process: Acquire stresses the journey; obtain stresses the outcome.
- Time: Acquire often implies gradual accumulation; obtain can be immediate.
- Objects: Acquire collocates with skills, knowledge, habits, property; obtain with permission, documents, evidence, results.
- Register: Both are formal; obtain is especially common in official and procedural contexts.
Side-by-Side Examples
She acquired excellent presentation skills over her career.
She obtained the presentation slides from her colleague before the meeting.
The investor acquired a portfolio of properties over ten years.
The investor obtained planning permission for the new development.
Common Mistakes
✗ I acquired a coffee from the vending machine.
✓ I obtained a coffee from the vending machine. (or simply: I got a coffee.)
✗ He obtained fluency in Mandarin after years of study.
✓ He acquired fluency in Mandarin after years of study.
✗ Participants got the data from the official database.
✓ Participants obtained the data from the official database.
Memory Tip
Think of ACquire as ACcumulate — both start with AC and suggest building something up over time. Think of OBtain as getting OBjective clearance — a single successful act of securing access or approval.
Also worth exploring: Get vs Obtain, Achieve vs Accomplish, Earn vs Win. Browse all confusing word pairs →
Acquire or Obtain?
Four questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “She ___ fluency in Spanish over three years.” (gradual process)
2. “He ___ a visa before travelling.” (a specific action)
3. “He ___ permission from the manager.”
4. “She ___ new skills during the course.” (built up over time)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between acquire and obtain?
Acquire implies gaining something through effort, experience, or a gradual process — it often suggests growth or accumulation over time. Obtain is more neutral and means to successfully get something through a specific action or request, without necessarily implying a long process. Both are formal alternatives to “get.”
Can acquire and obtain be used interchangeably?
In some contexts yes, but they carry different nuances. “She acquired the document” suggests she built up possession through effort. “She obtained the document” simply means she successfully got it. For skills, habits, and knowledge, acquire is almost always the better choice. For permissions, certificates, and documents, obtain is more natural.
Which word is more formal — acquire or obtain?
Both are formal. Obtain is especially common in legal, official, and bureaucratic language: obtain consent, obtain a licence, obtain evidence. Acquire leans towards business, property, and personal development: acquire assets, acquire skills, acquire a company. In academic writing either is acceptable depending on meaning.
What are common collocations with acquire?
Common collocations: acquire skills, acquire knowledge, acquire a taste for, acquire experience, acquire property, acquire a company, acquire a habit, acquire fluency, acquire assets, newly acquired, recently acquired. The phrase “an acquired taste” is a fixed expression meaning something one learns to enjoy over time.
What are common collocations with obtain?
Common collocations: obtain permission, obtain a licence, obtain a visa, obtain evidence, obtain consent, obtain a degree, obtain a result, obtain funding, obtain data, obtain information, obtain approval. Obtain is strongly preferred in official instructions: “You must obtain a permit before proceeding.”
Is obtain more common than acquire in everyday speech?
Neither is especially common in casual speech — most people say “get” in informal contexts. In writing, obtain appears frequently in official instructions and academic texts. Acquire is common in business, education, and formal journalism.
Can you acquire a document or permit?
Technically yes, but obtain is more natural for documents and permits. “Obtain a permit” focuses on the act of being granted access. “Acquire a permit” is grammatically correct but sounds slightly unusual because acquiring usually implies something more substantial or gradual than a single permit.
What is the noun form of acquire?
The noun form of acquire is acquisition: “The acquisition of new skills takes time.” In business, “an acquisition” refers to a company buying another company. The adjective form is acquired: “an acquired skill,” “an acquired taste.”
What is the noun form of obtain?
The noun form is obtainment (rare); more commonly the gerund “obtaining” is used: “the obtaining of evidence.” The adjective is obtainable: “The report is freely obtainable online.”
How do acquire and obtain appear in IELTS writing?
Both improve lexical resource in IELTS Task 2 essays as formal alternatives to “get.” Use acquire when writing about skills, qualifications, or knowledge: “Students acquire critical thinking skills at university.” Use obtain when writing about gaining access to resources: “It is now easier to obtain information online.”