obtain

American

[uhb-teyn] / əbˈteɪn /

verb (used with object)

to come into possession of; get, acquire, or procure, as through an effort or by a request.

to obtain permission;
to obtain a better income.

Synonyms:

attain, win, earn, achieve, gain

Antonyms:

forgo, lose
Obsolete. to attain or reach.

verb (used without object)

to be prevalent, customary, or in vogue; prevail.

the morals that obtained in Rome.
Archaic. to succeed.

obtain British

/ əbˈteɪn /

verb

(tr) to gain possession of; acquire; get
(intr) to be customary, valid, or accepted

a new law obtains in this case
archaic (tr) to arrive at
archaic (intr) to win a victory; succeed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See get.

Other Word Forms

obtainability noun
obtainable adjective
obtainer noun
obtainment noun
preobtain verb (used with object)
preobtainable adjective
reobtain verb (used with object)
reobtainable adjective
unobtainable adjective
unobtained adjective

Etymology

Origin of obtain

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English obteinen, from Middle French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre “to take hold of,” equivalent to ob- ob- ( def. ) + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”

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.

However, the court has now ruled that the fine "must be declared null and void" because of flaws in the investigation, according to a ruling obtained by AFP on Tuesday.

From Barron's

Payment records suggest the newspapers used up to 14 private investigators to obtain information.

From BBC

Having worked hard to obtain an R rating, the “Faces of Death” team has more recently run into issues with the MPA regarding the imagery on its posters.

From Los Angeles Times

Officials said they are also in communication with authorities to ascertain the cause of death, obtain the complete medical record and review the circumstances surrounding the death.

From Los Angeles Times

Rather than wait for investigators, they called used their police connections to obtain more security camera recordings.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023