acuter; acutest
1
a(1)
: characterized by sharpness or severity of sudden onset
acute pain
(2)
: of rapid onset and relatively short duration
acute illness
see also acute disease
(3)
: being, providing, or requiring short-term medical care (as for acute disease 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

Did you know?

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").

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

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 If started two days prior to going up to a high elevation, acetazolamide can prevent symptoms of acute illness by speeding up the acclimatization process. Brian Strickland, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2024 The statement said the cause was acute subdural hematoma, a condition in which blood collects between the skull and brain. Kiuko Notoya, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Bird Studio, the company Toriyama founded in 1983, announced on Thursday that the author and artist died on March 1 from acute subdural hematoma. Gene Park, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The studio said Toriyama died on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma, a condition where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 The artist behind the long-running media franchise that popularized Japanese manga abroad, passed away on March 1 from an acute subdural hematoma, according to the statement. Ryotaro Nakamaru, Fortune Asia, 8 Mar. 2024 The prolific Japanese creator died on March 1 from an acute subdural hematoma, the official Dragon Ball website shared in a statement on Friday from Bird Studio, which Toriyama founded in the Eighties, and Capsule Corporation Tokyo. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024 Israel has for months limited the flow of aid into Gaza, however some trucks have been allowed into the northern part of the strip where hunger is most acute. Ibrahim Dahman, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 Similar to when people experience microaggressions, racial gaslighting can be chronic, acute, and difficult to recognize. Byjenny Abamu, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acute.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of acute was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near acute

Cite this Entry

“Acute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acute. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

acute

adjective
acuter; acutest
1
a
: severe sense 3, sharp
acute pain
b
: having a sudden onset and short duration
acute disease
2
: being or forming an angle measuring less than 90 degrees
an acute angle
3
a
: marked by keen awareness : shrewd
an acute observation
b
: having sharp perceptions : observant
4
: needing speedy attention : urgent
an acute shortage of blood plasma
5
: felt or experienced intensely
acute distress
acutely adverb
acuteness noun

Medical Definition

acute

adjective
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)
: of rapid onset and relatively short duration
acute illness
an acute inflammation
see also acute disease compare chronic entry 1 sense 2a
(2)
: being, providing, or requiring short-term medical care (as for an acute disease or traumatic injury) : acute care
an acute hospital
acute patients
c
: lasting a short time
Most studies of the efficacy and safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of children and adolescents with major depression or anxiety disorders are acute studies, generally ranging in length from eight to 12 weeks.Karen Dineen Wagner, Psychiatric Times
acutely adverb
Since the patient's ocular symptoms had acutely worsened, he underwent immediate surgery … Jae Yong Lee, The New England Journal of Medicine
acuteness noun
A triage nurse determines the acuteness of the patient's problem and coordinates the order for treatment, providing immediate care to critically ill or injured patients and efficient care to those less seriously ill. Ridgecrest Regional Hospital

More from Merriam-Webster on acute

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!