In the sense of gain knowledge of or skill in something a scheme to encourage people to learn a foreign language Synonyms acquire a knowledge of • gain an understanding of • acquire skill in • become competent in • become proficient in • grasp • master • take in • absorb • assimilate • pick up • digest • familiarize oneself with • become expert in • know inside out • know backwards • comprehend • study • read up on • work at •...