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

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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 This system works very well for acute pain but can go haywire. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 21 Mar. 2024 Those who have survived face acute malnutrition, with 31% of children under the age of 2 now suffering in northern Gaza, according to UNICEF. Margaret Brennan, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024 That could have disastrous consequences for Gazans, who are facing an acute hunger crisis and displacement in crowded shelters and tent encampments. Robert Jimison, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 An area is considered to be in famine when 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and at least two adults or four children per every 10,000 people die daily. Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Tia Goldenberg, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 The fallout has been acute for people trying to get their prescriptions and for doctors trying to run their health practices. Sean Lyngaas, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 This is acute in D.C.’s deaf community, one of the largest in the nation thanks to the presence of Gallaudet University. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 While sharing hotel rooms at an out-of-state tournament, several of the team’s members fell ill with acute gastroenteritis. Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 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

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 28 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

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