reacquire
lowformal
Definition
Meaning
To acquire something again, especially something that was previously owned or possessed.
To obtain or gain again, such as skills, knowledge, rights, or status, often implying a restoration or repetition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a prior acquisition; commonly used in contexts of recovery, restoration, or deliberate re-obtainment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; spelling and pronunciation are consistent across both variants.
Connotations
Neutral in both, with a formal tone often associated with business, legal, or technical contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, particularly in business and legal registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
reacquire somethingreacquire something from someoneVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when a company buys back its own shares or repossesses assets, e.g., in mergers or acquisitions.
Academic
Referring to regaining access to data, re-obtaining research materials, or restoring archival records.
Everyday
Less common; might be used for getting back a lost item or re-establishing a habit.
Technical
In fields like telecommunications or computing, to reacquire a signal, connection, or data stream.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The local authority voted to reacquire the disused railway land for community projects.
- After the accident, he had to reacquire his confidence to drive again.
American English
- The corporation announced plans to reacquire its outstanding bonds next quarter.
- She needed to reacquire the necessary permits for the renovation.
adjective
British English
- The reacquired woodland is now protected as a nature reserve.
- Her reacquired fluency in French impressed the interview panel.
American English
- The reacquired patents strengthened the company's intellectual property portfolio.
- His reacquired certification allowed him to resume practicing law.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I hope to reacquire my favourite book from the library.
- After moving, she had to reacquire many household items that were lost in transit.
- The museum aims to reacquire several artifacts that were sold decades ago.
- Through advanced training, the athlete managed to reacquire the peak performance levels of his youth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Break it down: 're-' means again, and 'acquire' means to get or obtain, so reacquire means to get again.
Conceptual Metaphor
Possession as acquisition; knowledge or skills as commodities that can be lost and reacquired.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'переприобрести', which is rare and awkward; use context-appropriate verbs like 'вернуть' (to return) or 'восстановить' (to restore).
- Do not confuse with 'reacquaint', which means to become familiar with again.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 're-aquire' (omitting the 'c').
- Overusing in informal contexts where simpler words like 'get back' or 'regain' are more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'reacquire' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively low frequency and is primarily used in formal or specialized contexts such as business, law, or academia.
It is less common but possible; typically, 'regain' is preferred for abstract concepts like emotions, while 'reacquire' is more formal and often used for tangible or legal possessions.
It derives from the prefix 're-' (meaning again) and the verb 'acquire' (from Latin 'acquirere', meaning to get or obtain), so it literally means to obtain again.
No, the spelling is identical in both variants; however, ensure the 'c' is not omitted, as a common mistake.