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acute

adjective
\ ə-ˈkyüt How to pronounce acute (audio) \
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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Other Words from acute

acutely adverb
acuteness noun

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

 Uncontrolled hypertension, both chronic and acute, can contribute to a person's death in a number of ways. — NBC News, "Uncontrolled high blood pressure is cutting into heart disease progress," 27 Aug. 2019 Officials said last week Thomas died of a heart attack caused in part by chronic and acute use of methamphetamine. — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Authorities say inmate, 51, died in July at San Diego Central Jail," 14 Aug. 2019 Havlick, who would later found the Cherry Creek Sneak in 1982, wanted to create a fundraising race in 1980 when his wife was in a cancer fight with acute lymphocytic leukemia. — John Meyer, The Know, "Try one of Colorado’s oldest and most beautiful running races this Friday night," 30 July 2019 Madi was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in January 2018. — Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Indianapolis Star, "Colts' Pierre Desir, Kenny Moore help pay for teen volleyball player's funeral," 18 July 2019 But in the United States alone, rising seas are already causing chronic and acute flooding, and ocean floodwaters will likely claim some coastal communities in the not-too distant future. — Emily Atkin, The New Republic, "Why We’re Challenging the 2020 Democrats to a Climate Summit," 11 July 2019 The illness is called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, and is marked by the sudden onset of limb weakness (usually upper limb), paralysis, and spinal lesions seen on MRI scans. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Mysterious illness that paralyzes healthy kids prompts plea from CDC," 10 July 2019 There's a new government warning about acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, a serious polio-like illness that mainly strikes young children. — Victoria Albert, CBS News, "AFM still a "bit of a mystery" amid peak season for polio-like illness," 10 July 2019 Last year saw the highest number of cases of acute flaccid myelitis so far -- 233 confirmed cases in 41 states. — Michael Nedelman, CNN, "11 cases of polio-like illness AFM confirmed in eight states in 2019, CDC says," 9 July 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.

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First Known Use of acute

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

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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More Definitions for acute

acute

adjective
How to pronounce acute (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of acute

: 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

See the full definition for acute in the English Language Learners Dictionary

acute

adjective
\ ə-ˈkyüt How to pronounce acute (audio) \
acuter; acutest

Kids Definition of acute

1

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