acquisition
noun
ac·qui·si·tion
ˌa-kwə-ˈzi-shən 
plural acquisitions
1
: the act of acquiring something
acquisition of property
the acquisition of knowledge
2
: something or someone acquired or gained
The team announced two new acquisitions.
Examples of acquisition in a Sentence
Steven Schwartzman, the billionaire CEO of Blackstone, suffers no personal liquidity problems. But his firm, and others like it—have had to call off a series of proposed acquisitions because they can't get financing.
—
Daniel Gross, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2008
The gifting of books, too, endured as a legacy of our book hunting. I quickly learned not to ask for newly published books as birthday or Christmas presents, since they provided my father with too little of a challenge. The measure of a gift's value was the amount of thought and effort that went into its acquisition.
—Charles Mitchell, Bloomsbury Review, November/December 2002
McKnight and Ward, free-agent acquisitions who each have only one full season as a starter, have brought much-needed speed to the position. But rookie Chris Chambers, a second-round draft pick from Wisconsin, is the jewel.
—Jeffri Chadiha, Sports Illustrated, 1 Oct. 2000
the country's acquisition of new ships
The big company's newest acquisition is a small chain of clothing stores.
The museum has put its latest acquisitions on display.
Daniel Gross, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2008
The gifting of books, too, endured as a legacy of our book hunting. I quickly learned not to ask for newly published books as birthday or Christmas presents, since they provided my father with too little of a challenge. The measure of a gift's value was the amount of thought and effort that went into its acquisition.
—Charles Mitchell, Bloomsbury Review, November/December 2002
McKnight and Ward, free-agent acquisitions who each have only one full season as a starter, have brought much-needed speed to the position. But rookie Chris Chambers, a second-round draft pick from Wisconsin, is the jewel.
—Jeffri Chadiha, Sports Illustrated, 1 Oct. 2000
the country's acquisition of new ships
The big company's newest acquisition is a small chain of clothing stores.
The museum has put its latest acquisitions on display.
Recent Examples on the Web
The prized acquisition of the free agent class, Willis is Sullivan’s first attempt to find a starting quarterback solution for the franchise.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
Still, the new property acquisition means Oakland at last has a site where the Hoover library branch could reopen, following community efforts that have stretched on for years without resolution.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
One of the newest corporate members of the North Texas community announced an acquisition deal worth over $10 billion.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
Cobram Estate announced Thursday, March 12, it had been cleared by the federal government to proceed with the acquisition.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acquisition
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David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
Still, the new property acquisition means Oakland at last has a site where the Hoover library branch could reopen, following community efforts that have stretched on for years without resolution.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
One of the newest corporate members of the North Texas community announced an acquisition deal worth over $10 billion.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
Cobram Estate announced Thursday, March 12, it had been cleared by the federal government to proceed with the acquisition.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acquisition
Cite this Entry
“Acquisition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acquisition. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
acquisition
noun
ac·qui·si·tion
ˌak-wə-ˈzish-ən
1
: the act of acquiring
2
: something acquired
Legal Definition
acquisition
noun
ac·qui·si·tion
ˌa-kwə-ˈzi-shən
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