assume the liabilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assume the liabilities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or financial contexts when discussing the acceptance of responsibility for certain obligations or debts. Example: "As part of the merger agreement, the acquiring company will assume the liabilities of the target company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Ratner disputed that account, saying he always expected to assume the liabilities but pressed for protection against the team's losses.

The New York Times - Sports

"We are in the process of selling a significant number of assets prior to presenting our restructuring program to our creditors," said Stephen D. Weinroth, Integrated's chairman and chief executive Bombardier, based in Montreal, has agreed to assume the liabilities associated with Learjet, including loans outstanding under the jet manufacturer's $38 million credit line.

The New York Times

ASB was formed in connection with the spin-off and will acquire the assets and assume the liabilities relating to the business that has historically been operated by Yahoo under the name "Yahoo!

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Another way to address China's concerns about risk would be for the I.M.F. to assume the liability.

The New York Times

The final treaty also forced Spain to cede all claim to Cuba and to agree to assume the liability for the Cuban debt, estimated at $400 million.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It would assume the liability for health care benefits for current and retired workers and their families, which G.M. estimates at about $55 billion.

The New York Times

Mr. Hunter pointed to earthquake-prone Chile, where builders must assume the liability for catastrophic earthquake damage for 10 years after construction.

The New York Times

Because bankruptcy case law is murky on the matter, G.M. and the auto task force chose to assume the liability instead of risking a delay of the company's emergence from bankruptcy.

The New York Times

When companies have been sold or merged, the successor company as well as the current property owner assume the liability.

The New York Times

And the cherry on top of this proposition is that for very few jobs and no increased access to oil, we get to assume the liability of this project and its negative impact on our land, water and atmosphere.

Huffington Post

"In these kinds of deals, whoever owns the company has to write a check for this every week, every month, so they're assuming the liabilities and any kind of capital injection the business needs in order to operate," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "assume the liabilities" in legal documents, ensure that the specific liabilities being assumed are clearly defined to avoid future disputes.

Common error

Do not use "assume the liabilities" when you only mean to guarantee payment. "Assume" means taking full responsibility as if the debt were originally yours, while "guarantee" only means you'll pay if the primary debtor defaults.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assume the liabilities" functions as a verb phrase that signifies the act of accepting legal or financial responsibilities for debts or obligations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and used in both legal and financial discussions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "assume the liabilities" is a grammatically sound and professionally recognized phrase used to denote the transfer of legal or financial responsibilities. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and relevance, particularly in legal, business, and academic spheres. While not exceedingly common, this phrase effectively and clearly conveys the concept of accepting another's debts or obligations. When employing "assume the liabilities", precision is key; always clearly define what liabilities are being assumed to prevent ambiguity. Consider more common alternatives, such as "take on the liabilities", depending on your desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take on the liabilities

This alternative uses a more general verb, "take on", to express the act of accepting responsibilities, making it slightly less formal.

accept the liabilities

Using "accept" emphasizes the willingness to receive the liabilities, differing subtly from "assume" which suggests a more proactive taking.

shoulder the liabilities

This alternative implies bearing the burden of the liabilities, adding an element of responsibility and potential difficulty.

become liable for the liabilities

This phrase explicitly states the legal consequence of assuming the liabilities, focusing on legal accountability.

take responsibility for the liabilities

This emphasizes accountability and ownership of the liabilities, highlighting a sense of duty.

bear the liabilities

Similar to "shoulder", this phrase underscores the burden and endurance required to manage the liabilities.

cover the liabilities

Focuses on the financial aspect of managing liabilities, suggesting an ability to pay or offset them.

discharge the liabilities

This implies resolving or settling the liabilities, rather than just taking them on.

settle the liabilities

Similar to discharge, this phrase emphasizes the act of resolving or paying off the liabilities.

swallow the liabilities

Figuratively implies accepting negative consequences, or a loss, associated with the liabilities, which is a stronger connotation.

FAQs

What does it mean to "assume the liabilities" in a business context?

In a business context, to "assume the liabilities" means to take legal responsibility for the debts, obligations, or potential losses of another entity, as if they were your own. This typically occurs during mergers, acquisitions, or contractual agreements.

What's the difference between "assume the liability" and "assume the liabilities"?

"Assume the liability" refers to taking on a single, specific debt or obligation. "Assume the liabilities" refers to taking on multiple debts, obligations, or categories of responsibilities. The former is singular; the latter is plural.

When might a company "assume the liabilities" of another company?

A company might "assume the liabilities" of another company during a merger or acquisition, as part of a restructuring agreement, or when taking over a specific project or division. This is often done to consolidate operations or expand market share.

What are some alternatives to "assume the liabilities" that still convey a similar meaning?

You can use alternatives such as "take on the liabilities", "accept the liabilities", or "become liable for the liabilities" depending on the specific context.