obtain
verb (used with object)
to come into possession of; get, acquire, or procure, as through an effort or by a request.
had obtained
-
past perfectof obtain.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Daily Telegraph said it had obtained unredacted plans that showed Beijing reportedly plans to construct a "concealed chamber" among "secret rooms" underneath the embassy which would be close to sensitive underground communications cables.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
On Wednesday, White House science and technology advisor Michael Kratsios shared on X that the government had obtained information showing that Kimi K3 was distilled from Anthropic’s Fable.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
Buckley said prosecutors had obtained the phone numbers from a law-enforcement database and hadn’t intended to seek records of family members.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Gerardo Salcedo, the son of the business owner, told ABC7 that investigators had obtained surveillance video that showed a man on a bicycle putting a bottle through the mail slot minutes before the fire ignited.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Even if this family bore no resemblance to any other fugitives, they still could not leave until they had obtained a bond signed by two well-known residents.
From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry
