it has been acquired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has been acquired" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been obtained or secured, often in a formal or business context. Example: "After months of negotiations, it has been acquired by the larger corporation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

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

The New Yorker

Israel-based ad startup ClarityRay announced on its website that it has been acquired by Yahoo.

TechCrunch

Note: After we published, CloudEndure confirmed on its website, that it has been acquired by AWS.

TechCrunch

Mobile marketing company Sparq announced on its site today that it has been acquired by Yahoo.

TechCrunch

Hotspots.io, a startup promising to deliver "social media intelligence that you'll actually use", just announced on its home page that it has been acquired by Twitter.

TechCrunch

Holland tells me that today, about half of its content was filmed by its own creators, and about half of it has been acquired.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

The company said it has been acquiring spectrum rights in millimeter wave bands in several markets.

Los Angeles Times

The Hartz Mountain Corporation, a leading maker of pet supplies, said yesterday that it had been acquired by its management group, J. W. Childs Associates.

The New York Times

On Apr. 18 OpenSite canceled its initial offering and said it had been acquired by Siebel in a stock swap worth $440 million.

Forbes

(It had been acquired by France's King Francis I).

The New York Times - Books

It had been acquired in 2006 by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has been acquired" to clearly indicate a change in ownership or control, especially in formal or business contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "it has been acquired" when an active voice would be more appropriate, such as when specifying the acquiring entity is more important than the acquired entity. For example, prefer "Company X acquired Company Y" over "Company Y has been acquired by Company X" if the focus is on Company X's actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has been acquired" functions primarily as a passive voice construction, indicating that a subject (often a company, asset, or piece of property) has undergone the action of being obtained or purchased by another entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has been acquired" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to indicate a change in ownership or control. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is valid and useful. It is most frequently found in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, be mindful of whether an active voice might be more appropriate to emphasize the acquiring entity. Consider alternatives such as "it was obtained" or "it is now owned by" for different nuances. Overall, "it has been acquired" is a reliable and widely understood way to convey that something has been taken over or obtained.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is now owned by

Directly states the current owner, emphasizing the new state of ownership.

it was obtained

Focuses on the act of gaining possession, suitable when highlighting the process.

it was procured

Suggests a more formal or official method of acquiring something.

ownership has been transferred

Formal way of stating a change in ownership, typically used in legal or business contexts.

it was attained

Emphasizes the achievement or effort involved in the acquisition.

it has changed hands

Implies a transfer of ownership, often informally or in a business context.

it was secured

Highlights the act of making something safe or certain, often used in competitive contexts.

it came into possession

A more descriptive phrase emphasizing the shift of ownership or control.

it was taken over

Suggests the acquisition was a takeover, possibly implying a more forceful acquisition.

it has been assumed

Highlights taking up or commencing responsibilities or control.

FAQs

What does "it has been acquired" mean?

The phrase "it has been acquired" means that something has been obtained or come into the possession of someone. This is often used in business contexts to indicate that a company or asset has been bought by another entity.

What can I say instead of "it has been acquired"?

You can use alternatives like "it was obtained", "it was procured", or "it is now owned by" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "it has been acquired by" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it has been acquired by" is grammatically correct. It uses the passive voice to indicate that something (it) has undergone the action of being acquired, with 'by' specifying the agent that performed the action.

How do I use "it has been acquired" in a sentence?

You can use "it has been acquired" in sentences like: "The startup announced that "it has been acquired" by a larger corporation" or "The painting, once lost, "it has been acquired" by a private collector".