acute

play

adjective \ ə-ˈkyüt \

Definition of acute

acuter; acutest

1 a (1) :characterized by sharpness or severity

acute pain

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

acute disease

(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

3 a of an accent mark :having the form ´

b :marked with an acute accent

c :of the variety indicated by an acute accent

4 a :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

—

acutely

adverb

—

acuteness

noun

See acute defined for English-language learners

See acute defined for kids

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 of acute from the Web

Moreover, despite the acute geopolitical challenges and the continuous Russian occupation, Georgia irreversibly follows its European and Euro-Atlantic integration path.

— The Economist, "LettersLetters to the editor," 13 July 2017
This latter point is a big concern given the acute challenges millions of families are facing.

— abby m. mccloskey, National Review, "The Child Tax Credit Is No Elixir for Family Policy," 10 July 2017
Those tough decisions are certain to become more acute if the Senate health-care bill, which would reduce federal Medicaid spending, moves forward.

— carolyn y. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "High drug prices leave Louisiana considering asking for federal intervention," 3 July 2017
The tribute takes place one year ago to the day when Sager received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the 2016 ESPY Awards for his courageous and public battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

— rick armstrong, Naperville Sun, "Armstrong: Batavia plans fete to remember sportscaster Craig Sager," 1 July 2017
Gov. Dan Patrick and state Sen. Jane Nelson, the chamber’s chief budget writer, argued then costs for acute care services to Texas’ Medicaid program had risen 66 percent in the five years from 2009 to 2014.

— meredith hoffman, The Seattle Times, "Texas Medicaid cuts leave special needs kids without therapy," 28 June 2017
Pain-pill limit: House Bill 333 prohibits medical professionals from giving patients with acute pain a prescription that lasts longer than three days at a time for a Schedule II drug like OxyContin.

— morgan watkins, The Courier-Journal, "From charter schools to nuclear power plants, slew of new Kentucky laws in effect Thursday," 28 June 2017
An advanced clinical trial for another Seattle Genetics drug known as CD33A as a front line treatment for acute myeloid leukemia was halted this month after several patient deaths.

— seattle times staff, The Seattle Times, "Seattle Genetics says its drug improves longstanding lymphoma therapy," 25 June 2017
The law states only that the facilities must have such agreements with an acute care hospital and an ambulance service.

— deborah yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Planned Parenthood allowed to join suit challenging Ky abortion clinic rules, judge says," 23 June 2017

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.

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").

Origin and Etymology of acute

Middle English, from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere to sharpen, from acus needle; akin to Latin acer sharp — more at edge

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

acute Synonyms

Synonyms

delicate, fine, keen, perceptive, quick, sensitive, sharp

Antonyms

noncritical, nonurgent

Related Words

accurate, clear, discerning, good, piercing, precise, receptive, sensible, subtle; hair-trigger, hyperacute, hypersensitive, oversensitive, supersensitive

Near Antonyms

bad, deadened, dimmed, dull, dulled, fading; dead, imperceptive, insensible, insensitive, numb; imprecise, inaccurate

Synonym Discussion of 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

ACUTE Defined for English Language Learners

acute

play

adjective

Definition of acute for English Language Learners

: very serious or dangerous : requiring serious attention or action
: having or showing an ability to think clearly and to understand what is not obvious or simple about something
: very strong and sensitive : highly developed

ACUTE Defined for Kids

acute

play

adjective \ ə-ˈkyüt \

Definition of acute for Students

acuter; acutest

1 :measuring less than 90 degrees

acute angles

2 :marked by or showing an ability to understand things that are not obvious

an acute observation

3 :severe, sharp

acute pain

4 :developing quickly and lasting only a short time

acute illness

5 :critical 4, urgent

an acute shortage of food

6 :very strong and sensitive

an acute sense of smell

—

acutely

adverb

—

acuteness

noun

Medical Dictionary

acute

play

adjective \ ə-ˈkyüt \

medical Definition of acute

1 :sensing or perceiving accurately, clearly, effectively, or sensitively

acute vision

2 a :characterized by sharpness or severity of sudden onset

acute pain brought on by injury

an acute infection

b (1) :having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course

acute illness

an acute inflammation

— compare chronic 2a

(2) :acute care

an acute hospital

c :lasting a short time

acute experiments

—

acutely

adverb

—

acuteness

noun

Learn More about acute

See words that rhyme with acute Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for acute Spanish Central: Translation of acute Nglish: Translation of acute for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of acute for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up acute? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

acute

Definition of acute

acutely

acuteness

From the M-W Editors

Examples of acute in a Sentence

Recent Examples of acute from the Web

Ways to be acute

Origin and Etymology of acute

acute Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of acute

ACUTE Defined for English Language Learners

acute

Definition of acute for English Language Learners

ACUTE Defined for Kids

acute

Definition of acute for Students

acutely

acuteness

Medical Dictionary

acute

medical Definition of acute

acutely

acuteness

Learn More about acute

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066