acute

\ ə-ˈkyüt

acuter; acutest

Definition of acute

1a(1) : characterized by sharpness or severity of sudden onset acute pain

(2) : having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course acute illness

(3) : being, providing, or requiring short-term medical care (as for serious illness or traumatic injury) acute hospitals an acute patient

b : lasting a short time acute experiments

2 : ending in a sharp point: such as

a : being or forming an angle measuring less than 90 degrees an acute angle

b : composed of acute angles an acute triangle

3a of an accent mark : having the form ´

b : marked with an acute accent

c : of the variety indicated by an acute accent

4a : marked by keen discernment or intellectual perception especially of subtle distinctions an acute thinker

b : responsive to slight impressions or stimuli acute hearing

5 : felt, perceived, or experienced intensely acute distress

6 : demanding urgent attention an acute emergency

Other Words from acute Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Ways to Be Acute More Example Sentences Learn More about acute

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Choose the Right Synonym for acute

acute, critical, crucial mean of uncertain outcome. acute stresses intensification of conditions leading to a culmination or breaking point. an acute housing shortage critical adds to acute implications of imminent change, of attendant suspense, and of decisiveness in the outcome. the war has entered a critical phase crucial suggests a dividing of the ways and often a test or trial involving the determination of a future course or direction. a crucial vote

synonyms see in addition sharp

Ways to Be Acute

For such a short and simple-looking word, acute has a rather bewildering range of meanings. It first entered the English language with a medical sense, referring to the sharpness or severity of a symptom. It retains this meaning today, but can also refer to the severity of more general matters, such as "acute embarrassment" or "an acute shortage."

Acute is also frequently used to describe less troublesome matters, such as keenness of perception ("an acute observer" or "an acute sense of smell"), a type of angle (one measuring less than 90 degrees), or the demand for urgent attention ("acute danger").

Examples of acute in a Sentence

an acute sense of humor It's a politically acute film that does not oversimplify the issues.

Recent Examples on the Web Upon Bryant’s death, Colangelo felt that concern become more acute. — Tania Ganguli, Los Angeles Times, "Kobe Bryant leads Hall of Fame finalists during somber day," 14 Feb. 2020 Colliers International, a global investment adviser, reported last fall that inpatient rehab facilities now represent the fastest-growing part of the post-acute care segment. — Grace Schneider, The Courier-Journal, "Baptist Health will expand its rehab hospital footprint with $43M facility in J-town," 3 Feb. 2020 Led by Chief Delatorre, the NYPD is now applying fresh measures to address the thorny issue of homelessness in the New York City subway, a persistent dilemma that has grown more acute as the city’s homeless population has ballooned. — Ben Chapman, WSJ, "NYPD Transit Chief Says Homeless Outreach Working in Subway," 30 Jan. 2020 People born in the Year of the Rat are said to be instinctive, acute and alert, which makes them exceptional in business. — Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, "Dear Abby: New employee put out by menial task requests," 25 Jan. 2020 The onset of the Great Depression hastened Prohibition's demise, as the need for more jobs and tax revenue became acute. — David Crary, Anchorage Daily News, "Prohibition began 100 years ago, and its legacy remains," 15 Jan. 2020 This equates to an extra 12,216 days in the hospital, $31 million in inpatient and post-acute care costs, and $2.5 billion in value of life every year, the study found. — Jen Christensen, CNN, "More reasons air pollution will send you to the hospital," 27 Nov. 2019 The Cambridge biotech’s new drug is called givosiran and treats a condition called acute hepatic porphyria. — BostonGlobe.com, "FDA approves Alnylam drug for rare genetic disorder - The Boston Globe," 21 Nov. 2019 The medicine is intended to treat a rare genetic condition called acute hepatic porphyria that can cause attacks of severe abdominal pain. — Kate Sheridan, STAT, "FDA approves Alnylam’s Givlaari, second-ever drug based on RNAi," 20 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'acute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for acute

Middle English, borrowed from Latin acūtus "sharpened, pointed, having a violent onset, discerning, less than 90 degrees (of an angle)," from past participle of acuere "to sharpen, rouse, stimulate," probably derived from an otherwise unattested adjective stem acū- "sharp"; akin to acū-, acus "needle," a perhaps independently derived noun; further akin to Old Church Slavic osŭtŭ "thistle," Lithuanian ãšutas "hair of a horse's tail or mane"; all going back to the Indo-European base *h₂eḱ- "sharp" — more at edge entry 1

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