was acquired for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was acquired for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the purpose or reason for which something was obtained or purchased. Example: "The company was acquired for its innovative technology and skilled workforce."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Reed was acquired for Matt Lawton.

The New York Times - Sports

A T1-weighted MPRAGE sequence was acquired for each participant.

Harvard University

Gregg was acquired for José Ceda, a minor league pitcher.

The New York Times

A Charles Eames rocking chair was acquired for its light-hearted design.

The New York Times

SPL was acquired for undisclosed terms from funds managed by GFI Energy Ventures, Oracle said.

The New York Times

It was acquired for $35,000 at the turn of the 20th century.

The New York Times

The third, a colonial on the corner, was acquired for $600,000, then razed.

The New York Times

She sold it at auction in 1925, when it was acquired for the Pforzheimer library.

The Guardian - Books

PBJS, Seattle, a digital marketing agency, was acquired for undisclosed terms by the Publicis Groupe, Paris.

The New York Times

"Bromley maintain in their letter that the asset was acquired for Londoners as a whole.

The Guardian - Arts

(It was acquired for distribution after its première at Sundance in January, 2009).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was acquired for", ensure the reason or purpose is clearly stated to provide context. For example, "The startup was acquired for its innovative AI technology".

Common error

Avoid using "was acquired for" without specifying why something was acquired. Simply stating "The company was acquired" leaves the reader wondering about the underlying rationale.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was acquired for" functions as a passive construction indicating the reason or purpose behind an acquisition. It connects the acquired entity with the motive or intended use, as Ludwig's examples clearly show.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

28%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was acquired for" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to indicate the purpose or reason behind an acquisition. As shown by Ludwig, it appears frequently in News & Media, Science and Academia, making it versatile. To enhance clarity, always specify why something was acquired. Alternatives include "was purchased for" or "was obtained for". Whether discussing corporate mergers or scientific data collection, "was acquired for" effectively communicates intent and rationale.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was obtained to

Replaces "acquired" with "obtained", maintaining a similar meaning related to gaining possession for a specific reason.

was purchased in order to

Substitutes "acquired" with "purchased" and clarifies the purpose using "in order to".

was attained because of

Emphasizes the reason for acquisition, using "attained" as a synonym and "because of" to show causality.

was secured with the intention of

Highlights the intent behind the acquisition, using "secured" as a substitute for "acquired".

was procured for the purpose of

Uses "procured" to indicate acquisition, emphasizing the specific aim or goal.

was brought in for

Replaces "acquired" with "brought in", focusing on the action of introducing something for a reason.

was gained in exchange for

Focuses on what was given up to obtain the acquisition.

was landed to

Uses "landed" to show that they acquired something to perform the stated objective.

was headhunted for

Replaces "acquired" with "headhunted" showing that a talent was obtained to perform the stated objective.

was headhunted to

Uses "recruited" as a synonym of "acquired", emphasizing selection for a specific attribute.

FAQs

How can I use "was acquired for" in a sentence?

Use "was acquired for" to explain the reason or purpose behind obtaining something. For instance, "The land "was acquired for" building a new school".

What are some alternatives to "was acquired for"?

Consider using phrases such as "was purchased for", "was obtained for", or "was secured for" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was acquired for"?

While "was acquired for" is in the passive voice, it's often appropriate when the focus is on the object acquired and the reason for its acquisition, rather than the acquirer. If you want to emphasize the acquirer, use the active voice: "Company X acquired Company Y for...".

What's the difference between "was acquired for" and "was acquired by"?

"Was acquired for" indicates the purpose or reason for the acquisition, while "was acquired by" indicates the entity that did the acquiring. For example, "The startup "was acquired for" its technology" vs. "The startup "was acquired by" a larger corporation".