obtain

[ 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.

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.

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Origin of obtain

1375–1425; late Middle English obteinen < Middle French obtenir < Latin obtinēre to take hold of, equivalent to ob- ob- + -tinēre (combining form of tenēre to hold)

SYNONYMS FOR obtain

1 gain, achieve, earn, win, attain. See get.

ANTONYMS FOR obtain

1 lose, forgo.

OTHER WORDS FROM obtain

ob·tain·a·ble, adjectiveob·tain·a·bil·i·ty, nounob·tain·er, nounob·tain·ment, noun

pre·ob·tain, verb (used with object)pre·ob·tain·a·ble, adjectivere·ob·tain, verb (used with object)re·ob·tain·a·ble, adjectiveun·ob·tain·a·ble, adjectiveun·ob·tained, adjective

Words nearby obtain

obstructive hydrocephalus, obstructive jaundice, obstructive murmur, obstructive thrombus, obstruent, obtain, obtaining by deception, obtect, obtemper, obtest, obtrude

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for obtainability

obtain

/ (əbˈteɪn) /

verb

(tr) to gain possession of; acquire; get

(intr) to be customary, valid, or accepteda new law obtains in this case

(tr) archaic to arrive at

(intr) archaic to win a victory; succeed

Derived forms of obtain

obtainable, adjectiveobtainability, nounobtainer, nounobtainment, noun

Word Origin for obtain

C15: via Old French from Latin obtinēre to take hold of, from ob- (intensive) + tenēre to hold

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