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Prepositions after adjectives

acute with prepositions

Acute often appears with in, among, or with depending on meaning. Some combinations are limited or uncommon.

Quick answer

How acute combines with prepositions

Use acute in for qualities or abilities, acute among for distribution in groups, and acute with mainly in medical descriptions. Acute for and acute at are uncommon adjective patterns.

She has an acute interest in history.
The problem is most acute among young workers.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
acute in + quality/ability

Strong in a particular quality

Use in with nouns such as awareness, perception, or intelligence.

He is acute in his observations.
2
acute among + group

Especially severe in a group

Use among for problems affecting groups.

Unemployment is acute among graduates.
3
acute with + illness/symptom

Medical context

With can appear in medical descriptions of patients.

The patient was acute with dehydration.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
acute in
She is acute in her judgement.
sharp or perceptive in a quality
acute for
Acute for is not a common adjective pattern.
usually avoid
acute with
The child was acute with infection.
limited medical use
acute at
Acute at is uncommon.
use another structure
acute among
The shortage is acute among rural hospitals.
especially severe within a group

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using acute at

Use skilled at or sharp at instead in many contexts.

✕ He is acute at mathematics. ✓ He is sharp at mathematics.

Using acute for generally

This combination is not standard in most contexts.

✓ The crisis is acute among small businesses.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The housing shortage is acute ___ students.
2. She is acute ___ her analysis.
3. Choose the most natural sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

Is acute for correct?

It is generally uncommon as a fixed adjective pattern.

Can acute describe medical conditions?

Yes. Acute often describes severe or sudden illnesses.

What does acute among mean?

It means especially serious within a group of people.

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