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 court heard she had obtained a licence to fly a microlight - a type of small aircraft - a few years before and had limited experience of about 150 hours.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 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
It added that he had obtained a visa to enter the US and that he intends to perform in Miami later in the day.
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
The space had obtained grant support from the California Arts Council every year since the 2017-2018 cycle, with its last one being an almost $38,500 grant for general operating support for 2023-2024.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
It was from this ticket that Nye had obtained the address of the rooming house.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
