obtainverb
uk/əbˈteɪn/us/əbˈteɪn/formalobtain verb (GET)
B2 [ T ] to get something, especially by asking for it, buying it, working for it, or producing it from something else:
to obtain permission
First editions of these books are now almost impossible to obtain.
In the second experiment they obtained a very clear result.
Sugar is obtained by crushing and processing sugar cane.
More examples
- It's hard to obtain truly independent financial advice.
- The education director is persevering in his attempt to obtain additional funding for the school.
- The money was dishonestly obtained.
- The documents are the first substantive information obtained by the investigators.
- He was found guilty of obtaining money by deception.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Getting, receiving and accepting
- acquihire
- acquire
- acquisition
- awardee
- carve
- draw
- fill
- get sth out of sth
- glom onto sth/sb
- go to sb
- grasp
- pick
- pick sth up
- pounce
- score
- secure
- snatch at sth
- target
- wangle
- wrest
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obtain verb (EXIST)
[ I not continuous ] (especially of a situation) to exist:
Conditions of extreme poverty now obtain in many parts of the country.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Existing and being
- account for sth
- alive
- am
- are
- be
- come
- existent
- extant
- go
- go back
- have legs idiom
- hood
- languish
- leg
- lie
- lie in sth
- live
- lurk
- run
- stalk
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