become profitable

USAGE SUMMARY

"become profitable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to describe a situation in which a business or venture that was initially losing money is now making a profit. For example: "By cutting costs and increasing efficiency, the company was able to become profitable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By 1983 the corporation had become profitable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Do they become profitable innovations?

Harvard Business Review

"We want them to become profitable again.

The Guardian

By then Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation had become profitable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She believes Oh Baby will become profitable when its C.P.U.

The New York Times

One day, online distribution might even become profitable.

The Economist

Q: It took four years to become profitable.

The New York Times

Whether this idea will become profitable is not yet clear.

The New York Times - Tech

"In order to innovate, you have to become profitable.

The Guardian

Mr. Henderson declined to predict when G.M. would become profitable.

The New York Times

"This makes it harder for their businesses to become profitable".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a business or project's financial goals, use "become profitable" to clearly state the aim of generating more revenue than expenses. For example, instead of saying "the goal is to make money", specify "the goal is to "become profitable"" to add a degree of formality and clarify the intent.

Common error

Avoid using "become profitable" to describe temporary increases in revenue that don't result in sustained profitability. Ensure that the phrase reflects a fundamental shift in financial performance, not just a one-time event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become profitable" functions as a predicate adjective describing the state or condition a business, project, or investment attains when it generates more revenue than it spends. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "become profitable" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase that signifies the transition of a business or investment from a state of loss to one of financial gain. According to Ludwig AI, it's a standard English expression. Its professional register makes it suitable for business, news, and academic contexts, while alternatives like "turn a profit" or "achieve profitability" offer subtle variations in meaning. Remember to use it accurately to reflect sustained financial improvement, not just temporary gains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turn a profit

Focuses on the act of making a profit after a period of loss or break-even.

achieve profitability

Highlights the successful attainment of a state where revenues exceed costs.

become financially viable

Emphasizes the sustainability and long-term financial health of an entity.

start making money

A more informal way to express becoming profitable, focusing on the basic concept of earning revenue.

generate revenue

Emphasizes the creation of income rather than the overall state of profitability.

break even and then profit

More explicit about first recovering costs and then generating income.

see a return on investment

Focuses on recouping initial investments and then generating profit.

yield a profit

Highlights the production or generation of profit as a result of efforts or investments.

enter the black

An idiomatic expression signifying a transition from operating at a loss to making a profit.

improve the bottom line

Focuses on increasing net income, often through cost reduction or revenue enhancement.

FAQs

How can I use "become profitable" in a sentence?

Use "become profitable" to describe the process of a business or investment transitioning from losing money to making money. For example, "The company expects to "become profitable" within the next fiscal year."

What are some alternatives to saying "become profitable"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "turn a profit", "achieve profitability", or "become financially viable".

Is it correct to say "became profitable" instead of "become profitable"?

Yes, "became profitable" is the past tense form of the phrase. Use "became profitable" when referring to a past event: "The company "became profitable" after implementing new cost-cutting measures."

What does it mean for a company to "become profitable"?

For a company to ""become profitable"" means that its revenues are consistently greater than its expenses, resulting in a net profit. This indicates a sustainable and healthy financial position.