was able to acquire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was able to acquire" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone successfully obtained something after some effort or difficulty. Example: "After months of negotiations, the company was able to acquire the necessary funding to expand its operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He was able to acquire them for $330,000, half what he had expected to pay.

The New York Times - Arts

Defensive linemen Ernie Logan, Rick Lyle and Anthony Pleasant symbolized the solid if unspectacular players Pioli was able to acquire.

The New York Times - Sports

Due to the outpouring of volunteer support, Stricklin was able to acquire the supplies she needed, and then some.

The Guardian

Mr. von Boeselager, assigned to an explosives research team, was able to acquire top-grade English explosives.

The New York Times

He lost half his body weight before his wife was able to acquire forged papers that secured his release.

The New Yorker

Fortunately for the Shackleford team, it was able to acquire the services of the stellar Johnny Velazquez.

The New York Times

"Citigroup was able to acquire the best banking franchise in Mexico," said Brent Erensel, a bank stock analyst at Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown.

The New York Times

Halfway through the 2002 season, Billy Beane was able to acquire players he could never have afforded at the start of the season.

The New York Times - Magazine

Gandalf Murphy was able to acquire the software and equipment to start laying down tracks for "Flapjacks From the Sky" in late 2001.

The New York Times

"The built structure was actually the random result of pragmatic politics, guided by the question of where the municipality was able to acquire building lots".

The Guardian

"Once Andy signed here and Houston was able to acquire him, everything started falling into my lap, and things started changing that way".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was able to acquire" to clearly indicate a successful effort in obtaining something, especially when facing challenges or competition.

Common error

Avoid using "was able to acquire" when a simpler verb like "got" or "obtained" would suffice. Reserve it for situations where the acquisition involved effort or overcoming obstacles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was able to acquire" functions as a verb phrase indicating the successful completion of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase used to describe the act of gaining possession or control of something, often implying effort or capability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was able to acquire" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates the successful completion of an action, often implying effort or capability. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in a variety of contexts. It's most commonly found in News & Media, Wiki and Science articles. When writing, remember to use this phrase to highlight situations where the acquisition involved effort or overcoming obstacles, and avoid overusing it in place of simpler verbs. Consider alternatives like "managed to obtain" or "succeeded in acquiring" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

managed to obtain

Uses "managed" instead of "was able" implying successful effort. Also, "obtain" is used as a synonym for "acquire".

succeeded in acquiring

Emphasizes the successful outcome of the acquisition process.

managed to purchase

Replaces "acquire" with "purchase", specifically implying a transaction.

was capable of acquiring

Focuses on the capability rather than the actual act of acquiring.

had the opportunity to acquire

Highlights the availability of an opportunity that led to the acquisition.

was in a position to acquire

Emphasizes the favorable circumstances that enabled the acquisition.

secured the acquisition of

Focuses on the act of securing something for acquisition.

obtained through acquisition

Highlights the process of obtaining through an acquisition method.

came into possession of

Describes the result of acquiring something, focusing on ownership.

gained ownership of

Emphasizes the transfer of ownership as a result of the acquisition.

FAQs

How can I use "was able to acquire" in a sentence?

Use "was able to acquire" to show that someone successfully obtained something, especially after effort or difficulty. For example, "The company "was able to acquire" a new patent after years of research."

What can I say instead of "was able to acquire"?

You can use alternatives like "managed to obtain", "succeeded in acquiring", or "managed to purchase" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "was able to acquire" or "acquired"?

While "acquired" is a more direct and concise option, ""was able to acquire"" emphasizes the effort or ability required to obtain something. Choose the option that best fits the intended emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "was able to acquire" over "obtained"?

"Obtained" is a general term for getting something. Use ""was able to acquire"" when you want to highlight the capacity, opportunity or effort involved in the process of obtaining something.