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acquaint

(transitive, followed by with) To furnish or give experimental knowledge of; to make (one) know; to make familiar.

əˈkweɪntSilenthistorical167 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Global
#1·Apr 27, 2026Global

(transitive, followed by with) To furnish or give experimental knowledge of; to make (one) know; to make familiar.

I think you should acquaint him with the realities of the situation.
Origin: From , from , from , from , past participle of accognoscō, from , from nōscō. See also quaint, know. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

Acquaint means: To furnish or give experimental knowledge of; to make (one) know; to make familiar.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

acquaint means: To furnish or give experimental knowledge of; to make (one) know; to make familiar.. Register: neutral, standard English. Common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; always check the context before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.

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Global
#2·Apr 27, 2026Global

(transitive, obsolete) To familiarize; to accustom.

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Global
#3·Apr 27, 2026Global

(transitive, archaic, followed by of or that) To communicate notice to; to inform; let know.

I had almoſt forgotten to acquaint your honor, that one major Alford (who was in mr. Love's conſpiracy) was of the graund inqueſt at Saliſbury, and was very zealous in his highneſſe ſervice here, and his good affection and wiſe carriage …
For parents

Acquaint means: To communicate notice to; to inform; let know.. The word is mostly archaic or historical; you will only encounter it in old texts, period drama, or school history rather than current teen conversation. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

acquaint means: To communicate notice to; to inform; let know.. Register: archaic, historical. Almost never used today; you will find it only in older texts, dictionaries of dialect, or historical writing. Avoid in active vocabulary. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

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For specific readers

Acquaint means: To furnish or give experimental knowledge of; to make (one) know; to make familiar.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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