Obtain
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /əbˈteɪn/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Obtain is a verb meaning (transitive) To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
Meaning
(transitive) To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
More Meanings
- (intransitive, obsolete) To secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached.
- (intransitive, obsolete) To prevail, be victorious; to succeed.
- (transitive, obsolete) To hold; to keep, possess or occupy.
- (intransitive, especially philosophy) To exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force.
Example Sentences
obtain permission
obtain information
difficult to obtain
We obtained accurate data from the survey.
Word Forms
- obtains
- obtaining
- obtained
- obtainest
- obtainedst
- obtaineth
- obtein
- obteyn
Synonyms for obtain
Depending on context, synonyms include get, gain, acquire, attain, procure, exact.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include get, receive, prevail, hold, incur, acquire.
Commonly Confused & Compared Words
Related Dictionary Tools
Practice “obtain” in a Crossword
Recall this definition from a clue, use crossing letters, and review the word again when you solve it.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.