In medicine, describing a disease as acute denotes that it is of recent onset; it occasionally denotes a short duration. 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. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Acute. If an internal link incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. acute adjective (EXTREME) If a bad situation is acute, it causes severe problems or damage: The simple definition of ACUTE is very serious or dangerous : requiring serious attention or action. ACUTE definition: sharp or severe in effect; intense. See examples of acute used in a sentence. Use the adjective acute for when you want to describe something as sharp or extremely serious. The word acute is one word; it's not two words, nor does it have anything to do with something small, cuddly, and pretty! In medical terminology, acute describes a condition that comes on suddenly and typically lasts a short time. It’s one of the most common words you’ll encounter on medical charts, diagnosis labels, and doctor visit summaries. In medicine, “acute” means sudden and short-lived — not severe. Learn how it differs from chronic conditions and why the distinction matters for your care. acute adjective (EXTREME) If a bad situation is acute, it causes severe problems or damage.