was acquired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was acquired" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to the acquisition of something by someone, either physical or metaphorical. For example: "The old farmhouse was acquired by a new owner last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Reble.FM was acquired by Playlist.com.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Aflibercept was acquired commercially (Eylea®).

Nature

Ultimately, the firm was acquired.

Harvard Business Review

Instead, the company was acquired by CBS.

The New York Times

(Landmark was acquired by Halliburton in 1996).

The New York Times

(Aegis was acquired by Dentsu in March).

The New York Times

The site was acquired by M.C.

Encyclopedia Britannica

GitLinks was acquired by software company Infor.

Cornell University

This week Ravel was acquired by LexisNexis.

Harvard University

CLI was acquired over 300 s, and β-RLI was acquired using two 10-s acquisitions.

Stanford University

In 1997, BBN was acquired by GTE.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about corporate acquisitions, use "was acquired by" to clearly state the acquiring entity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "acquired" actively when a passive construction is needed. Instead of saying "Company A acquired Company B", ensure clarity by stating "Company B was acquired by Company A."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was acquired" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject underwent the action of being obtained or taken over. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction is frequently used to describe corporate actions and changes in ownership.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was acquired" is a common and grammatically sound passive verb phrase used to describe the act of obtaining ownership or control of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and prevalent use across various contexts, including news, academia, and encyclopedias. While alternatives like "was purchased" or "was obtained" exist, "was acquired" is particularly useful in formal and neutral settings when conveying information about corporate acquisitions or changes in ownership. It's important to maintain clarity by specifying the acquiring entity to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was purchased

Focuses on the financial transaction aspect of acquiring something.

was obtained

Emphasizes the act of gaining possession, often through effort or process.

was attained

Suggests achieving something after a period of effort or development.

was procured

Implies acquiring something through careful planning or effort.

was secured

Highlights the act of making something safe or certain, often involving competition.

came into possession of

A more formal and descriptive way of saying something was acquired.

became the property of

Emphasizes the change in ownership of something.

was taken over by

Suggests a more forceful or dominant acquisition.

merged with

Highlights the union of two entities into one, often involving acquisition.

was assumed by

Suggests taking on a responsibility or role, including assets or liabilities.

FAQs

How to use "was acquired" in a sentence?

Use "was acquired" to indicate that something has been obtained by someone else. For example, "The startup "was acquired by" a larger corporation."

What can I say instead of "was acquired"?

You can use alternatives like "was purchased", "was obtained", or "was taken over" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was acquired by" or "acquired by"?

"Was acquired by" is the passive voice construction indicating that something received. "Acquired by" is active and would require rephrasing the sentence, for example "Company A acquired company B" versus "Company B "was acquired by" company A".

What's the difference between "was acquired" and "merged with"?

"Was acquired" implies one entity taking ownership of another, while "merged with" suggests a more equal union of two entities to form a new one.