What does "takeover" mean?
The purchase of one company by another; a merger without the formation of a new company, especially where some stakeholders in the purchased company oppose the purchase.
Takeover
noun, verb
noun, verb ·3 syllables ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The purchase of one company by another; a merger without the formation of a new company, especially where some stakeholders in the purchased company oppose the purchase.
- Grammar: takeover is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: coup, acquisition, acquisitions, adoption.
- Useful contrasts: constitutional succession, continuity of management, peaceful transfer.
- Usage evidence: When the trusted confidant of the person who conducted a hostile takeover of the company betrayed him, it was a sort of retributive justice.
How to use "takeover"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "takeover" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "takeover" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "takeover" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "takeover" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "takeover" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "coup" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "takeover", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The purchase of one company by another; a merger without the formation of a new company, especially where some stakeholders in the purchased company oppose the purchase.
"If the takeover is approved, Comcast would control 20 of the top 25 cable markets, […]. Antitrust officials will need to consider Comcast’s status as a monopsony (a buyer with disproportionate power), when it comes to negotiations with programmers, whose channels it pays to carry."
- 2 a change by sale or merger in the controlling interest of a corporation wordnet
- 3 The acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to the acquisition of a private company. UK
- 4 a sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force wordnet
- 5 A time or event in which control or authority, especially over a facility is passed from one party to the next.
"Revollo was absent when Bolivian police and the navy captain arrived at dawn, and the base takeover came off without problems, according to a U.S. narcotics official."
Verb
- 1 Misspelling of take over. alt-of, misspelling
Antonyms
constitutional successioncontinuity of managementpeaceful transferretention of control
Example
"When the trusted confidant of the person who conducted a hostile takeover of the company betrayed him, it was a sort of retributive justice."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "takeover"?
Common synonyms include: coup, acquisition, acquisitions, adoption, annexations, appropriation.
How do you use "takeover" in a sentence?
When the trusted confidant of the person who conducted a hostile takeover of the company betrayed him, it was a sort of retributive justice.
Etymology
Deverbal from take over.