obtain
Americanverb (used with object)
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obtains,
present (3rd person singular)
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obtained,
past participle, past
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obtaining
present participle
verb (used without object)
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obtains,
present (3rd person singular)
-
obtained,
past participle, past
-
obtaining
present participle
-
to be prevalent, customary, or in vogue; prevail.
the morals that obtained in Rome.
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Archaic. to succeed.
verb
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(tr) to gain possession of; acquire; get
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(intr) to be customary, valid, or accepted
a new law obtains in this case
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archaic (tr) to arrive at
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archaic (intr) to win a victory; succeed
Synonym Usage
See get.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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obtainabilitynoun
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obtainernoun
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obtainmentnoun
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preobtainverb (used with object)
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reobtainverb (used with object)
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obtainableadjective
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preobtainableadjective
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reobtainableadjective
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unobtainableadjective
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unobtainedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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obtainsimple
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obtainssimple
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have obtainedperfect
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has obtainedperfect
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am obtainingprogressive
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are obtainingprogressive
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is obtainingprogressive
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have been obtainingperfect progressive
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has been obtainingperfect progressive
Past
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obtainedsimple
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had obtainedperfect
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was obtainingprogressive
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were obtainingprogressive
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had been obtainingperfect progressive
Future
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”
Explanation
Obtain means to get something that is not so easy to come by such as knowledge, rights, or a large amount of money. You wouldn't say you obtained a pair of pants, unless they were one of a kind. At times in its history, obtain has meant to be victorious or to succeed. Today, it mostly means to acquire, but keeping its prior meanings in mind helps you to use it in the right way. College degrees are something that you obtain as is permission from your parents to go to a party. When you obtain something, you have worked hard to get it, so you are pretty happy to have it.
Vocabulary lists containing obtain
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Essential English Vocabulary, List 1
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100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
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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.
See Examples For:
Western blueberry-genetics companies have shifted toward letting Chinese players obtain licenses for their blueberry varieties.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
We’ve heard nothing about access and audit-log analysis, government computer and phone forensics, or efforts to obtain third-party communications — which can involve subpoenas, court orders or warrants.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
Kenyan law also recognises the right of refugees to work and operate businesses, although they are also required to obtain the appropriate documentation.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Those protections, known as Temporary Protected Status or TPS, allow immigrants to obtain work permits and by Thursday some Salvadorans had already been fired from their jobs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
During the next several months, Guiteau and his family attempted to obtain a pardon, going as far as sending their request to President Arthur.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
The Social Security Administration obtains medical records to determine a person’s eligibility when they apply for disability benefits.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
And if the inmate obtains a new injunction, he can be transferred again, and the whole process starts over.
From Slate ● Jun. 23, 2026
Through it all, Mr. Trump has limited the U.S. responses to self-defense and insisted the cease-fire still obtains.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026
The number of championship rings a player obtains is dependent on teammates and coaching systems.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2026
“It was a most beautiful sight one obtains in the descent of the car, for then the whole fair grounds is laid before you,” Gronau said.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Some Western growers believe Chinese growers have been mixing illicitly obtained protected varieties with other blueberry plants, making it harder to enforce intellectual-property claims.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
According to documents obtained by the paper, the center's board of trustees is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to close the main building of Washington's performing arts center, due to financial and safety needs.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
In video footage obtained by KABC, waves could be seen crashing onto the rocks below the house.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
No statements were obtained from three other witnesses, including a potential eyewitness.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
Miss Rossit obtained two books just for me.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
Documents show that, in spring 2002, the San Diego office was ultimately able to get copies of a handful of videos by obtaining them not from New York, but from the FBI liaison in London.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
Haden was raised in San Diego and graduated from University City High before obtaining his bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
Is there any way to add beneficiaries or otherwise avoid probate without obtaining an MSG?
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
Breast cancer is not included in France's official list of occupational diseases, meaning that obtaining recognition can be a lengthy and difficult ordeal for patients.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
Because of its potential importance for navigation, the whole business of obtaining accurate star positions was of key importance in the late seventeenth century, both commercially and because of its military implications.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
