acquire technology

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire technology" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of obtaining or gaining access to technological tools, systems, or innovations. Example: "In order to stay competitive in the market, our company needs to acquire technology that enhances our production efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Could these people have passed on how to acquire technology?

The New York Times

It's a happy hunting time for companies that know how to acquire technology.

The New York Times

Saab, which General Motors sold to Spyker in February, has already announced several agreements to acquire technology.

The New York Times

"Anyone can acquire technology, but at this place they've got passion, they've created a soul, they allow for emotion".

The New York Times

In Contendo it will acquire technology aimed at speeding up delivery of online content using so-called cloud computing.

The New York Times

The Covad Communication Group, which sells high-speed Internet service, will buy GoBeam for $48 million in stock to acquire technology for making telephone calls online.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Companies are willing to travel farther than ever to acquire technologies, a consequence of the rise of engineering in China and India.

The New York Times

This can be achieved through microfinance interventions that will provide credit access to households and businesses to help them acquire technologies for clean energy utilization.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

China is not only acquiring technology.

The New York Times

Adobe also recently acquired technology to make digital type easier to read.

The New York Times

Small countries depend on imports for more than half of their acquired technology.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a company's strategic moves, use "acquire technology" to indicate a proactive approach to innovation and competitive advantage. For example, "To enhance its AI capabilities, the company plans to acquire technology from a specialized startup".

Common error

Avoid using "acquire technology" to describe a situation where technology is simply adopted without a clear strategic intent. Instead, reserve the phrase for scenarios involving deliberate acquisition, investment, or licensing, like partnerships or commercial agreements. For simple adoption use "adopt technology" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire technology" functions as a verb phrase where "acquire" is the transitive verb, and "technology" is the direct object. This structure signifies an action performed upon something. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it suggests actively obtaining or gaining access to technological assets.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acquire technology" is a common and grammatically correct expression referring to the process of obtaining technology through various means like purchase or licensing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for formal and professional settings. Predominantly used in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, "acquire technology" describes a strategic decision to improve capabilities or gain competitive advantage. Related phrases include "obtain technology" and "procure technology". A key writing tip is to ensure the phrase reflects a deliberate acquisition strategy, rather than simple technology adoption.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obtain technology

Replaces "acquire" with "obtain", a direct synonym, maintaining similar meaning.

procure technology

Substitutes "acquire" with "procure", emphasizing a more formal acquisition.

secure technology

Replaces "acquire" with "secure", implying gaining technology with a sense of protection or certainty.

gain access to technology

Rephrases the concept to focus on accessing rather than owning the technology.

adopt technology

Changes the focus to incorporating and using technology, rather than just obtaining it.

implement technology

Focuses on the integration of technology into existing systems or processes.

develop technology

Shifts the meaning towards creating technology rather than acquiring it.

license technology

Specifies acquiring the right to use technology under certain terms.

purchase technology

Emphasizes the commercial transaction involved in acquiring technology.

attain technology

Uses "attain" which is a more formal synonym for "acquire", slightly shifting the tone.

FAQs

What does "acquire technology" mean?

The phrase "acquire technology" refers to the process of obtaining or gaining access to technological tools, systems, or innovations, often through purchase, licensing, or strategic partnerships.

How to use "acquire technology" in a sentence?

You can use "acquire technology" to describe a company's efforts to improve its capabilities or gain a competitive edge. For example, "The company decided to acquire technology to automate its manufacturing process."

What can I say instead of "acquire technology"?

You can use alternatives like "obtain technology", "procure technology", or "secure technology" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "acquire technology" and "develop technology"?

"Acquire technology" means obtaining existing technology from another source, while "develop technology" refers to creating new technology in-house.