obtain

[ uhb-teyn ]

/ əbˈteɪn /

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See synonyms for: obtain / obtained / obtaining / obtainable on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR obtain

1 gain, achieve, earn, win, attain.

See synonyms for obtain on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR obtain

1 lose, forgo.

See antonyms for obtain on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of obtain

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

synonym study for obtain

1. See get.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use obtain in a sentence

In some cases, bachelor’s degree-holders are obtaining supplementary skills — computer science majors adding certificates in cloud technology, for example.
More people with bachelor’s degrees go back to school to learn skilled trades|Jon Marcus|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Under British law at the time, they had to obtain a divorce because same-sex couples were not permitted to marry.
Jan Morris, artful travel writer who broke many boundaries, dies at 94|Matt Schudel|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The email, obtained this month through a Public Information Act request, said required steps were given in a different order.
Hogan’s first batch of coronavirus tests from South Korea were flawed, never used|Steve Thompson|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
However, these results were obtained with a health care provider conducting the test, so the accuracy will likely go down when used at home.
The FDA just okayed a rapid at-home COVID test—but it won’t work for everyone|Tara Santora|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science

In early June, the Daily News and ProPublica obtained a copy of an anonymous whistleblower letter describing Clarkson’s interactions with the state employee.
Junior Staffer Says Top Alaska Official Told Her to Keep Allegations of Misconduct Secret|by Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News|November 18, 2020|ProPublica
Thus, more time is spent organization and obtaining ones free of failings.
Design Your Own Dinosaur: The Era of Custom DNA|Justin Jones|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They prevailed last August, obtaining—follow me here—an injunction prohibiting the enforcement of those provisions.
The Back Alley, Low Blow-Ridden Fight to Stop Gay Marriage in Florida Is Finally Over|Jay Michaelson|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Obtaining this understanding and posterity is easy, according to the website.
Rand Paul’s Many Leather-Bound Books|Olivia Nuzzi|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In turn, Holtsman assisted Spitz in obtaining a vehicle and supplies.
On the Trail of Nazi Counterfeiters|Dr. Kevin C. Ruffner|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2013, the state saw a 75 percent decline in the number of patients obtaining painkillers from multiple subscribers.
Painkiller Overdoses Kill More Than One American Every Hour|Abby Haglage|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Greenlaw (Charles P.), his efforts in obtaining steam for India, 560.
Notes and Queries, Index to Eighth Volume, July-December 1853|Various
Add to this, if you please, the great difficulty of obtaining from them even the words that they have.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
In the good old days of yore there was little trouble in obtaining admission to the Civil Service.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
Dance-giving mammas were anxious to secure the success of their entertainments by obtaining the presence of "lovely Mrs. Haggard."
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Of course, the usual international operations for obtaining gold were denied to Germany.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips

British Dictionary definitions for obtain

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

obtain

OTHER WORDS FOR obtain

OPPOSITES FOR obtain

Origin of obtain

synonym study for obtain

OTHER WORDS FROM obtain

Words related to obtain

How to use obtain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for obtain

Derived forms of obtain

Word Origin for obtain