obtain

verb

ob·tain əb-ˈtān How to pronounce obtain (audio)

äb-

obtained; obtaining; obtains

transitive verb

: to gain or attain usually by planned action or effort

The information was difficult to obtain.

We obtained a copy of the original letter.

intransitive verb

: to be generally recognized or established : prevail

Those ideas no longer obtain for our generation.

a greater degree of free expression than usually obtains in film production

Roger Manvell

archaic : succeed

obtainability

əb-ˌtā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce obtain (audio)

äb-

noun

obtainable

əb-ˈtā-nə-bəl How to pronounce obtain (audio)

äb-

adjective

obtainer noun

obtainment

əb-ˈtān-mənt How to pronounce obtain (audio)

äb-

noun

Did you know?

Obtain, which was adopted into English in the 15th century, comes to us via Anglo-French from the Latin obtinēre, meaning "to hold on to, possess." Obtinēre was itself formed by the combination of ob-, meaning "in the way," and the verb tenēre, meaning "to hold." In its earliest uses, obtain often implied a conquest or a successful victory in battle, but it is now used for any attainment through planned action or effort. The verb tenēre has incontestably prevailed in the English language, providing us with such common words as abstain, contain, detain, sustain, and, perhaps less obviously, the adjectives tenable and tenacious.

Example Sentences

The information may be difficult to obtain. We obtained a copy of the original letter. These ideas no longer obtain for our generation.

Recent Examples on the Web Lead auditors are now required to obtain avowals from outsiders about the quality of their work in writing.

Mark Maurer, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 And, as a result, thousands of people have been unable to obtain clean water from their taps.

Andy Meek, BGR, 3 Sep. 2022 At the time, Caldero was representing Elgin Sweeping in its efforts to obtain relief from a change in the city’s water billing practices that investigators indicated could have cost the company more than $1 million.

Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 News of the sale comes as authorities in several states are probing apparent efforts to gain unauthorized access to voting machines or obtain data from them following the 2020 election.

Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 2 Sep. 2022 Last year, the Panthers traded a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and second- and fourth-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft to obtain Darnold from the New York Jets.

Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 27 Aug. 2022 Leave it to Third Way to be the organization cheering for a predatory loan servicer to step forward and obtain relief from Samuel Alito and his merry band of right-wing culture warriors.

Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2022 In addition, the proposal would limit the standards to hospital buildings that provide emergency services and allow rural hospitals that demonstrate financial hardship to obtain additional waivers from the extended timeline.

Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2022 But police didn’t yet have probable cause to obtain search warrants for DNA swabs from any of them.

Wired, 17 Aug. 2022 See More

单词	obtainable
释义	obtain verb ob·tain əb-ˈtān äb- obtained; obtaining; obtains transitive verb : to gain or attain usually by planned action or effort The information was difficult to obtain. We obtained a copy of the original letter. intransitive verb 1 : to be generally recognized or established : prevail Those ideas no longer obtain for our generation. a greater degree of free expression than usually obtains in film production Roger Manvell 2 archaic : succeed obtainability əb-ˌtā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē äb- noun obtainable əb-ˈtā-nə-bəl äb- adjective obtainer noun obtainment əb-ˈtān-mənt äb- noun Did you know? Obtain, which was adopted into English in the 15th century, comes to us via Anglo-French from the Latin obtinēre, meaning "to hold on to, possess." Obtinēre was itself formed by the combination of ob-, meaning "in the way," and the verb tenēre, meaning "to hold." In its earliest uses, obtain often implied a conquest or a successful victory in battle, but it is now used for any attainment through planned action or effort. The verb tenēre has incontestably prevailed in the English language, providing us with such common words as abstain, contain, detain, sustain, and, perhaps less obviously, the adjectives tenable and tenacious. Synonyms acquire attain bag bring in capture carry come by draw earn gain garner get knock down land make procure pull down realize reap secure win See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The information may be difficult to obtain. We obtained a copy of the original letter. These ideas no longer obtain for our generation. Recent Examples on the Web Lead auditors are now required to obtain avowals from outsiders about the quality of their work in writing. Mark Maurer, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 And, as a result, thousands of people have been unable to obtain clean water from their taps. Andy Meek, BGR, 3 Sep. 2022 At the time, Caldero was representing Elgin Sweeping in its efforts to obtain relief from a change in the city’s water billing practices that investigators indicated could have cost the company more than $1 million. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 News of the sale comes as authorities in several states are probing apparent efforts to gain unauthorized access to voting machines or obtain data from them following the 2020 election. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 2 Sep. 2022 Last year, the Panthers traded a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and second- and fourth-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft to obtain Darnold from the New York Jets. Mark Inabinett \| Minabinett@al.com, al, 27 Aug. 2022 Leave it to Third Way to be the organization cheering for a predatory loan servicer to step forward and obtain relief from Samuel Alito and his merry band of right-wing culture warriors. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2022 In addition, the proposal would limit the standards to hospital buildings that provide emergency services and allow rural hospitals that demonstrate financial hardship to obtain additional waivers from the extended timeline. Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2022 But police didn’t yet have probable cause to obtain search warrants for DNA swabs from any of them. Wired, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English obteinen, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre to hold on to, possess, obtain, from ob- in the way + tenēre to hold — more at thin First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense Kids Definition obtain verb ob·tain əb-ˈtān obtained; obtaining : to gain or get hold of with effort She was able to obtain a ticket to the show. We obtained permission to enter. obtainable adjective as in available possible to get gas was in such short supply that it was just not obtainable at any price Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance available accessible attainable acquirable purchasable procurable provided supplied furnished on hand on tap on file at the ready reachable prevalent rentable widespread getatable appropriable ubiquitous universal omnipresent unrestricted public open common free free-for-all Antonyms & Near Antonyms unobtainable unattainable unavailable inaccessible limited restricted lacking scarce uncommon rare deficient missing off-limits See More
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obtain

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

adjective