intend to acquire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intend to acquire" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a plan or desire to obtain something in the future. Example: "The company intends to acquire new technology to enhance its product offerings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"We do not intend to acquire Bayer.

The New York Times

So, despite having no interest in him whatsoever, they intend to acquire Arturo Vidal for a fee of £34m – and, perhaps, Javier Hernández.

The Guardian - Sport

But Mr. Chernin said that the company did not intend to acquire many new stations, even though regulators appear to be likely to relax rules restricting the number of stations that one company may own.

The New York Times

Referring to the Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD), Dagan warned that these countries would not be able to cope with the amount of weapons systems they intend to acquire: "They do not use the weapons effectively".

The Guardian

They are committed to the veterans Paul O'Neill and Chad Curtis and the youngsters Ricky Ledee and Shane Spencer in the outfield and Chili Davis as the designated hitter, and they intend to acquire a center fielder if Bernie Williams signs elsewhere.

The New York Times - Sports

Referring to the Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD), Dagan warned that these countries would not be able to cope with the amount of weapons systems they intend to acquire: "They do not use the weapons effectively". 6. (S) Dagan said that Jordan has successfully faced down threats from the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, and that Egypt is struggling with the question of who will replace President Mubarak.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

It explicitly "does not assume that Iran intends to acquire nuclear weapons".

The New York Times

There is, however, widespread agreement that Iran intends to acquire nuclear weapons.

The New York Times

Verizon's recent announcement that it intends to acquire Yahoo reflects this industry shift.

The Washington Post

My understanding is that Alexander Lebedev still intends to acquire it and that Independent News & Media remains willing to sell.

The Guardian - Opinion

To me, the fact that BofA is even disclosing this means that BofA still intends to acquire Countrywide.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context. "Intend to acquire" is suitable for formal or neutral settings. For informal settings, consider alternatives like "plan to get" or "aim to buy".

Common error

Avoid using "intend to acquire" if there's no concrete plan or action supporting the intent. Overstating intentions without demonstrable effort can damage credibility. Instead, use wording like "considering acquisition" to imply analysis and evaluation of action rather than firmly stating it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intend to acquire" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a future action. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically sound and commonly used. It signifies a planned or purposed action to gain possession of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intend to acquire" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to express a plan or purpose to obtain something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression, though it's not extremely common. Predominantly found in news and business contexts, it conveys a neutral to professional tone. While alternatives like "plan to purchase" or "aim to secure" exist, "intend to acquire" offers a specific nuance of formal acquisition. Remember to ensure the subject has the capacity to realistically pursue the acquisition when using the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plan to purchase

Emphasizes the planning aspect and uses a more direct term for buying.

aim to secure

Highlights the goal-oriented nature and suggests making something safe or certain.

have set sights on

Indicates a strong desire and focused intention to acquire something.

expect to gain

Focuses on the anticipation of obtaining something, rather than the act of acquisition itself.

look to attain

Suggests a focused effort towards reaching a goal of acquisition.

propose to obtain

Implies a formal suggestion or plan to get something.

seek to procure

A more formal and sometimes legalistic way of saying "try to get".

are going to get

An informal way of expressing future acquisition.

have designs on

An idiomatic expression indicating a secret or ambitious plan to acquire something.

mean to take over

Specific to acquiring control of a company or entity.

FAQs

What does "intend to acquire" mean?

The phrase "intend to acquire" means to have a plan or purpose to gain possession of something, typically through purchase or other formal means.

How can I use "intend to acquire" in a sentence?

You can use "intend to acquire" to describe a company's plans, for example: "The company "plans to purchase" a competitor" or "The city "aims to secure" land for development".

What are some alternatives to "intend to acquire"?

Alternatives include "plan to purchase", "aim to secure", or "expect to gain", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "intend to acquire" formal or informal?

"Intend to acquire" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase, suitable for business, legal, or official contexts. More informal options include "are going to get" or "mean to take over".