acute
uh-KYOOT
Acute (adj) means Sudden and severe, especially describing an illness or pain. Example: “The patient felt acute pain in her side and was taken straight to the ward.”
adj
1
Sudden and severe, especially describing an illness or pain.
"The patient felt acute pain in her side and was taken straight to the ward."
"Acute illnesses come on quickly, unlike chronic ones that can last for years."
"He was admitted to hospital with acute appendicitis."
2
Very sharp, intense, or perceptive.
"The detective's acute mind noticed the tiny detail everyone else had missed."
"She has an acute sense of hearing."
"His acute observation helped solve the mystery."
3
Geometry: describing an angle that measures less than 90 degrees.
"An angle of forty degrees is acute because it is smaller than a right angle."
"Draw an acute angle with your protractor, then label it clearly."
"The triangle had one acute angle and two obtuse ones."
How to use acute
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSharp or intense — used for sudden severe illness, keen senses or perception, or narrow angles in geometry.
Common mistake
In medicine, "acute" means sudden-onset, not necessarily severe — it's the opposite of "chronic" (long-lasting), not of "mild."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
acute pain
acute angle
acute sense
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Word forms
- Plural
- acutes
- Third person singular
- acutes
- Past tense
- acuted
- Comparative
- acuter, more acute
- Superlative
- acutest, most acute
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The patient felt _____ pain in her side and was taken straight to the ward.
Etymology
From Latin acutus ("sharp, sharpened"), the past participle of acuere ("to sharpen"), from acus ("needle").
Synonyms
View more →
severe
sharp
intense
keen
critical
perceptive
penetrating
acuate
needlelike
discriminating
incisive
knifelike
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for acute
See all rhymes for acute →Frequently asked questions
What does “acute” mean?
The word “acute” means sudden and severe, especially describing an illness or pain. In plain terms, sharp or intense — used for sudden severe illness, keen senses or perception, or narrow angles in geometry.
How do you pronounce “acute”?
“Acute” is pronounced uh-KYOOT (/əˈkjut/ in IPA).
How do you use “acute” in a sentence?
Here is “acute” used in a sentence: “He was admitted to hospital with acute appendicitis.”
What part of speech is “acute”?
“Acute” is an adjective.
Where does the word “acute” come from?
The word “acute” comes from Latin. From Latin acutus ("sharp, sharpened"), the past participle of acuere ("to sharpen"), from acus ("needle").
Is “acute” a common word?
“Acute” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “acute” have?
“Acute” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sudden and severe, especially describing an illness or pain.
What is the difference between acute and chronic?
Acute describes an illness or pain that is sudden and severe, arriving quickly and typically running a short course. Chronic describes a condition that persists or keeps returning over a long period. So acute bronchitis flares up suddenly, while chronic bronchitis lasts for months or years.
What is the difference between an acute angle and an obtuse angle?
In geometry, an acute angle measures less than 90 degrees. An obtuse angle measures more than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees. An angle of exactly 90 degrees is a right angle, sitting between the two.
Can acute describe emotions?
Yes. Acute can describe feelings that are sharp and intense, as in acute embarrassment, acute anxiety, or acute homesickness. It signals that the feeling is piercing and strongly felt, often over a short period.
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