# takeover

/ˈteɪˌkoʊvɝ/ (US) · /tˈeɪkəʊvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/takeover
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. business acquisition

noun · CEFR B2

the act of one company buying another company to take control of it.

For teachers: the acquisition of a company by another through the purchase of a controlling interest in its share capital.

- The small tech startup was saved from bankruptcy by a friendly takeover.
- The board of directors spent weeks fighting off a hostile takeover bid from their largest competitor.

Usage: Often used with the adjectives 'hostile' or 'friendly' to describe the nature of the purchase.

### 2. gaining control

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a situation where one person or group takes control of something from another.

For teachers: the act of seizing or assuming control of a facility, organisation, or political entity.

- The military takeover of the government led to months of protests.
- Following the sudden retirement of the founder, the internal takeover by the junior partners proceeded more smoothly than many had anticipated.

## Examples

- The small tech startup was saved by a corporate takeover.
- The board of directors met late into the night to discuss the details of the proposed takeover bid.
- Market analysts predicted that the aggressive takeover would lead to significant restructuring and the eventual sale of the company's non-core assets to reduce debt.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.