WordValeacute
sudden in onset and short in duration
In more detail
1. (adjective) very serious or severe, especially a disease or medical condition that develops suddenly and quickly
2. (adjective) showing keen intelligence or good judgment; able to notice and understand things quickly
3. (adjective) (of an angle) measuring less than 90 degrees
Examples
- 1. She was admitted to the hospital with acute appendicitis.
- 2. He has an acute sense of humor and understands subtle jokes immediately.
- 3. An acute angle in geometry is smaller than a right angle.
How to use acute
Acute has three distinct meanings in English. In medical contexts, it describes conditions that are sudden and severe, contrasting with chronic diseases that develop slowly. In intellectual contexts, it describes sharp perception or keen judgment. In geometry, it describes angles under 90 degrees. The first two senses are much more common in everyday English than the geometric sense.
Common phrases
- acute angle
- acute shortage
- acute illness
- acute awareness
- acute pain
- acute crisis
Synonyms
severe · critical · sharp · keen · perceptive
Opposites
chronic · obtuse · dull
Word family
acutely (adverb) · acuteness (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse acute with chronic, using acute to mean prolonged or long-lasting when it actually means sudden and severe.
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