being acquired by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being acquired by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to business, mergers, or acquisitions when discussing a company or entity that is being purchased by another. Example: "The startup is being acquired by a larger tech company, which will help it expand its reach in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Wachovia is being acquired by Wells Fargo & Company.

The New York Times

(House of Blues is being acquired by Live Nation).

The New York Times - Arts

Meanwhile, NBC Universal is being acquired by Comcast.

The New York Times

At the time, however, NBC was being acquired by Comcast.

The New York Times - Magazine

WHERE did Tebow play before being acquired by the Jets?

The New York Times

Todd Stitzer, Cadbury's chief executive, has suggested Cadbury would prefer being acquired by Hershey to being acquired by Kraft due to the companies' cultural similarities.

The Guardian - Business

In July, New York-based PaineWebber announced it was being acquired by UBS for $12 billion.

The New York Times

The decision came as Berlin Cameron is being acquired by the WPP Group in London.

The New York Times

So this deal keeps SDL from being acquired by someone else.

The New York Times

The series was created for Canada's Space channel before being acquired by BBC Worldwide.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Arnold is part of Snyder Communications, which is being acquired by Havas Advertising.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a past acquisition, use "was acquired by" instead of "being acquired by".

Common error

Avoid using "being acquired by" when you need to describe a completed acquisition. Use "was acquired by" or "has been acquired by" for past events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being acquired by" functions as a passive verb phrase. It describes a state of undergoing a process of acquisition, where an entity is the recipient of the action. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is common in contexts where one entity is taken over by another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

1%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "being acquired by" is a common and grammatically correct passive verb phrase used to describe an entity undergoing acquisition by another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is prevalent in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, serving the purpose of informing about ongoing business transactions. While alternatives like "being purchased by" or "being taken over by" exist, "being acquired by" maintains a neutral and widely accepted usage. Remember to use appropriate tenses, such as "was acquired by" for past events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being purchased by

Replaces "acquired" with "purchased", focusing on the financial transaction aspect of the acquisition.

being taken over by

Substitutes "acquired" with "taken over", implying a shift in control, possibly with less emphasis on mutual agreement.

being bought out by

Uses "bought out" instead of "acquired", suggesting the purchase of controlling interest.

being obtained by

Replaces "acquired" with "obtained", suggesting acquisition is the act of getting possession of something.

being merged with

Indicates a combination of two entities into one, rather than a straight acquisition.

being absorbed by

Emphasizes the integration of one entity into another, losing its separate identity.

being assimilated into

Highlights the process of becoming part of a larger entity, often implying cultural integration as well.

becoming a subsidiary of

Specifies the resulting relationship: one company becoming a subsidiary of another.

being controlled by

Focuses on the aspect of control rather than the process of acquisition.

coming under the ownership of

States the change in ownership explicitly, using a more formal tone.

FAQs

What does it mean for a company to be "being acquired by" another?

It means that one company is in the process of being purchased by another company. The acquiring company will gain control and ownership of the acquired company.

What's the difference between "being acquired by" and "merging with"?

"Being acquired by" implies one company is taking over another. "Merging with" suggests two companies are combining to form a new entity.

What can I say instead of "being acquired by" to emphasize a financial transaction?

You can use phrases like "being purchased by" or "being bought out by" to highlight the financial aspect.

Is it correct to use "being acquired by" in the past tense?

No, "being acquired by" describes a process in progress. For past events, use "was acquired by" or "has been acquired by".