acute

adjective \ ə-ˈkyüt \

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: acute in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Ways to be acute

Definition of acute

acuter; acutest

1 a (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

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

There have been some suggestion there is less interest and pride because of the pain of four years ago but the viewing figures have remained astronomical and the hunger for redemption is acute.

— martin rogers, USA TODAY, "'Brazil's Donald Trump': World Cup fate impacts far-right presidential candidate," 6 July 2018
The destruction has been most acute in southeastern Wisconsin.

— lee bergquist, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Emerald ash borer continues to decimate trees 10 years after it was discovered in Wisconsin," 25 June 2018
This year is expected to be the worst yet for food security, with millions potentially facing acute malnutrition.

— megan specia, New York Times, "Warring Leaders of South Sudan Meet for Peace Talks," 21 June 2018
But even that crisis only became acute after the closure of the Long Island Bridge forced the poor, the homeless, and the drug dependent into plain view.

— nestor ramos, BostonGlobe.com, "More and more, the rich avert their gaze from Boston’s poor. But they will be seen," 15 June 2018
There are currently several methods of assessing acute malnutrition in children.

— emily matchar, Smithsonian, "Can AI Tell If a Child Is Malnourished?," 8 June 2018
Carter said the threat of nuclear war has become more acute and that America has abandoned its leadership as a champion of a clean and healthy environment.

— kate sullivan, CNN, "Jimmy Carter says discrimination against women and girls is the world's biggest problem," 19 May 2018
New warnings Some 15,000 Yemenis have been killed or injured since fighting began, and millions of those still alive are threatened by famine, acute malnutrition, forced displacement and preventable diseases like cholera.

— kate samuelson, Time, "Yemen Enters Its Fourth Year of War—and Humanitarian Crisis," 29 Mar. 2018
More than 200,000 children are estimated to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, which can be deadly, the report said.

— NBC News, "70 million people suffer in neglected crises, humanitarian group report says," 22 Jan. 2018

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, 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 ¹edge

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

acute Synonyms

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

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

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

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

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

Near Antonyms

Related Words

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

Trending: Brennan Questions Trump's 'Probity'

'Banana Republic': A History

The Eponym Quiz

Come Back Here With That: 10 Fun Words for Stealing

Ghost Word