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Meaning & use

takeover

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈteɪkəʊvə/
US/ˈteɪkoʊvər/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablebusiness

    The act of one company buying enough of another to control it.

    Grammar: Usually written as one word: a takeover bid.

    Patterns

    • a takeover of something
    • a takeover bid
    • a hostile takeover

    The takeover of the airline was announced on Monday.

    Shareholders voted to accept the takeover.

    A rival firm launched a hostile takeover.

  2. nouncountable

    The act of seizing power or control, often suddenly or by force.

    Grammar: Often used about governments, crowds or buildings.

    Patterns

    • a military takeover
    • the takeover of something

    The military takeover shocked the country.

    Residents opposed the takeover of the park by developers.

    The takeover of the building lasted two days.

  3. nounsingular

    The moment when someone officially begins a role or responsibility from someone else.

    Grammar: Often with a smooth or orderly: the takeover went smoothly.

    Patterns

    • a smooth takeover

    The takeover of the shop by the new owners went smoothly.

    Her takeover as manager happens in June.

    A takeover of the evening shift is scheduled for Friday.

Word forms

pluraltakeovers

Common combinations

a hostile takeover
The board fought off a hostile takeover.
a takeover bid
The takeover bid valued the firm at two billion dollars.
a corporate takeover
A corporate takeover cost hundreds of jobs.
a military takeover
The military takeover ended the elected government.
a friendly takeover
The founders welcomed a friendly takeover.

Synonyms and how they differ

acquisition
Acquisition is a neutral business word for buying a company, while takeover can imply control changing hands against resistance.
buyout
A buyout means purchasing a controlling share, often by managers or investors, so it is narrower than takeover.
coup
A coup is a sudden political seizure of power, never a business purchase.
merger
A merger joins two companies as equals, whereas a takeover means one gains control.

Opposites

handover

Word family

take over verb
to gain control or responsibility
overtake verb
to pass something moving in the same direction
taker noun
a person who accepts something offered
takeovers noun
plural of takeover

Commonly confused: takeover or take over?

takeover vs take over

Take over written as two words is the verb: she will take over, but the noun is a takeover.

Practice

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