has been acquired by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has been acquired by' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something has been obtained or taken over by a specific person or entity. For example, "The company has been acquired by a larger corporation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has been acquired by Universal.

The New York Times

A copy of Abney's book with outstanding woodburytypes has been acquired by Princeton University.

Princeton University

Although the house has been acquired by the town, it suffers from neglect.

The New York Times

British Steel has been acquired by Tata of India as manufacturing has shifted east.

The Guardian - Business

There could be cost savings now that Press Gazette has been acquired by Danson's Progressive Media.

The Guardian

(Since its première, it has been acquired by four other companies).

The New Yorker

Mr. Pakhalé's work has been acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, she noted.

The New York Times

Both have since closed, and the chain has been acquired by Retail Ventures, based in Columbus, Ohio.

The New York Times

RDF Media Group, the production company behind Wife Swap, has been acquired by Paris-based producer Zodiak Entertainment.

The Guardian

A High Voltage Engineering K-4000 Van de Graaff ion accelerator has been acquired by Washington State University.

Applied Surface Science

Tapulous has been acquired by Disney.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "has been acquired by" to clearly and directly indicate a change in ownership or control of a company, asset, or intellectual property. Ensure that the subject and object of the phrase are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using active voice when passive voice is more appropriate. For instance, instead of "Company X acquired Company Y", use "Company Y has been acquired by Company X" to emphasize the change in ownership from Company Y's perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been acquired by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating a completed action where the subject (the entity acquired) is acted upon by the agent (the acquiring entity). This phrase is frequently used in news and formal announcements to report mergers, acquisitions, and changes in ownership, as seen in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been acquired by" is a grammatically sound passive construction frequently used to communicate a change in ownership or control, mainly in news and business contexts. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is widely accepted and correct, making it a reliable choice for formal announcements. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about which entity was acquired and which entity did the acquiring. While "has been acquired by" is very common, consider related alternatives like "was taken over by" or "is now owned by" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is now owned by

Indicates the current state of ownership after an acquisition.

was taken over by

Implies a change of control or management, suggesting a more forceful action than a simple purchase.

was purchased by

Focuses specifically on the financial transaction involved in gaining ownership.

is now a subsidiary of

Indicates that the entity is controlled by a parent company.

has been taken into possession by

Suggests a formal or legal transfer of property, often with an emphasis on the act of claiming ownership.

is under the control of

Highlights the aspect of influence and direction exerted by the new owner.

has been merged with

Implies a blending of two entities, rather than one simply taking over the other.

has been subsumed by

Conveys a sense of absorption, where one entity loses its individual identity.

has been annexed by

Suggests a territorial or political takeover, often implying a forceful or unilateral action.

has been commandeered by

Implies taking possession or control of something, often temporarily, especially for military or public use.

FAQs

How is "has been acquired by" different from "acquired"?

"Has been acquired by" is in the passive voice, emphasizing the entity that was acquired, whereas "acquired" is in the active voice, focusing on the acquiring entity. For example, "Company A has been acquired by Company B" emphasizes Company A, while "Company B acquired Company A" emphasizes Company B.

What are some alternatives to "has been acquired by"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "is now owned by", "was taken over by", or "was purchased by".

Is it correct to say "has been acquire by" instead of "has been acquired by"?

No, "has been acquire by" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "has been acquired by", which uses the past participle form of the verb "acquire".

Can I use "has been acquired by" for non-business contexts?

Yes, while often used in business contexts, "has been acquired by" can also be used in other contexts where something changes ownership or control. For example, "The painting has been acquired by the museum."