The meaning of the word obtain

получать, приобретать, добиваться, достигать, добывать, применяться, существовать

глагол

Мои примеры

Словосочетания

efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings — попытки получения чистого баса в оркестровых записях  
the processing of ore to obtain minerals — обработка руды для получения минералов  
to get / obtain a class — окончить курс с отличием  
to obtain an injucntion — добиться вынесения судебного запрета  
to obtain an interview — взять интервью  
to obtain a lawyer — получить адвоката, пользоваться услугами адвоката  
to obtain a reward — получить награду  
to obtain the age of smth. — достигнуть какого-л. возраста  
to obtain witness — добиться явки свидетеля  
to obtain a small reach — получить маленькую премию  
to obtain remounts for the cavalry — получать пополнение лошадей для кавалерии  
to obtain an attorney — получить адвоката  

Примеры с переводом

How did you obtain the visa?

Каким образом вы получили визу? / Как вам удалось раздобыть визу?

The information may be difficult to obtain.

Получить такую информацию может быть трудно.

These conditions no longer obtain.

Эти условия больше не соблюдаются.

We managed to obtain another pin of beer.

Нам удалось раздобыть ещё один бочонок пива.

I could obtain with the snap of my fingers anything I chose.

Я мог получить всё, что захочу, одним щелчком пальцев.

This situation generally obtains in early language learning.

Такая ситуация обычно встречается на ранних этапах обучения языку.

I climbed to obtain a general view of the surrounding scene.

Я взобрался выше, чтобы (получить возможность) получше рассмотреть окрестности.

ещё 16 примеров свернуть

Возможные однокоренные слова

obtainable  — доступный, достижимый
obtaining  — получение, приобретение
obtained  — полученный, приобретенный, достигнутый, достигший
obtainment  — получение, приобретение, достижение

Формы слова

verb
I/you/we/they: obtain
he/she/it: obtains
ing ф. (present participle): obtaining
2-я ф. (past tense): obtained
3-я ф. (past participle): obtained

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 productionRoger Manvell

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

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

The sheriff said the suspects obtained the guns used in the shootings through car burglaries.


Antonio Planas, NBC News, 8 Apr. 2023





Robert, a professor of German literature, and his wife, Norma, a novelist, chose New Rochelle to ensure that Jonathan and his 12-year-old sister would obtain a better education than possible in New York City’s troubled public school system.


Richard J. Mcnally, wsj.com, 7 Apr. 2023





The former head of a Portland city bureau plagued by personnel and performance problems disclosed deeper layers of dysfunction on his way out the door last month, according to records obtained Friday.


oregonlive, 7 Apr. 2023





In recent years, the F.D.A. has extensively reviewed new data on mifepristone and has lifted several of the restrictions, including the requirement that patients obtain the drug in person from a provider.


Pam Belluck, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2023





The charges against the Patriots owner were eventually dropped when an appeals court ruled that surveillance footage had been obtained illegally.


Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2023





City officials have said those funding plans, which include obtaining grants, are proceeding.


Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2023





Gullah Geechee people on Saint Helena still own their land because their ancestors put up cash to obtain deeds in the 19th century.


Sara Novak, Scientific American, 6 Apr. 2023





In a letter sent to staff and obtained in full by CNBC, senior executive Tony Gingiss appeared to lay the blame for its collapse firmly at the feet of chief executive Dan Hart and company directors for initiating the selloff of Virgin Orbit’s assets rather than finding a better solution.


Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2023



See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘obtain.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of obtain was
in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near obtain

Cite this Entry

“Obtain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obtain. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

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More from Merriam-Webster on obtain

Last Updated:
10 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

  • 1
    obtain

    obtain a clearance

    получать разрешение

    obtain from recorder

    получать информацию с помощью регистратора

    obtain information

    получать информацию

    obtain the correct path

    выходить на заданную траекторию

    obtain the flying speed

    набирать заданную скорость полета

    obtain the forecast

    получать прогноз

    English-Russian aviation dictionary > obtain

  • 2
    obtain

    1) получа́ть; добыва́ть; приобрета́ть;

    2) достига́ть, добива́ться

    3) существова́ть, быть при́знанным; применя́ться;

    the same rule obtains regarding… то же пра́вило отно́сится и к…

    Англо-русский словарь Мюллера > obtain

  • 3
    obtain

    obtain: to obtain energy requirements удовлетворять потребность в энергии

    English-Russian dictionary of biology and biotechnology > obtain

  • 4
    obtain

    Персональный Сократ > obtain

  • 5
    obtain

    [əbˈteɪn]

    obtain добиваться obtain доставать obtain достигать, добиваться obtain достигать obtain получать obtain получать; добывать; приобретать; to obtain a prize получить приз; to obtain a commission воен. быть произведенным в офицеры obtain приобретать obtain существовать, быть признанным; применяться; these views no longer obtain эти взгляды устарели; the same rule obtains regarding… то же правило относится и к… obtain получать; добывать; приобретать; to obtain a prize получить приз; to obtain a commission воен. быть произведенным в офицеры obtain получать; добывать; приобретать; to obtain a prize получить приз; to obtain a commission воен. быть произведенным в офицеры obtain существовать, быть признанным; применяться; these views no longer obtain эти взгляды устарели; the same rule obtains regarding… то же правило относится и к… obtain существовать, быть признанным; применяться; these views no longer obtain эти взгляды устарели; the same rule obtains regarding… то же правило относится и к…

    English-Russian short dictionary > obtain

  • 6
    obtain

    1. v получать, доставать, приобретать

    2. v добиваться, достигать

    3. v быть признанным, существовать; быть распространённым, встречаться

    to obtain counsel — быть представленным адвокатом; заключить соглашение с адвокатом

    Синонимический ряд:

    1. bring (verb) abound; be prevalent; bring; bring back; bring forth; bring out; fetch and carry; prevail

    2. concern (verb) appertain to; be pertinent to; bear upon; concern

    3. get (verb) achieve; acquire; annex; attain; chalk up; come by; compass; earn; gain; get; have; land; procure; pull; secure; win

    4. recover (verb) collect; gather; glean; pick up; purchase; reap; recover; retrieve

    6. take (verb) accomplish; capture; force from; grab; grasp; invade; occupy; reach; take

    Антонимический ряд:

    forfeit; forgo; forsake; lose; relinquish; sacrifice

    English-Russian base dictionary > obtain

  • 7
    obtain

    əbˈteɪn гл.
    1) получать;
    добывать;
    приобретать to obtain a reward ≈ получить награду I climbed to obtain a general view of the surrounding scene. ≈ Я взобрался выше, чтобы получить более широкую перспективу окрестностей. obtain a commission Syn: get, receive, catch, acquire
    2) а) редк. добиваться, достигать obtain by incessant begging б) уст. иметь успех Syn: succeed, prevail;
    prosper
    3) достигать (какого-л. предела, границы), доходить( до чего-л.) to obtain the age of smth. ≈ достигнуть какого-л. возраста
    4) существовать, быть признанным;
    применяться;
    иметь место laws of nature which universally obtain ≈ существующие во всем законы природы Syn: subsist, exist
    получать, доставать, приобретать — to * experience приобретать опыт — to * a prize получать приз — to * a commission( военное) получить (патент на) офицерское звание — to * information добывать сведения — to * the ball off-side( спортивное) принять мяч «вне игры» — he *ed his knowledge through years of hard study он добился своих знаний годами упорной работы — this gas is *ed from coal этот газ добывается из угля добиваться, достигать — to * a position добиваться положения — to * the range( военное) определять дальность — to * touch( военное) устанавливать связь — we managed to * a favourable settlement нам удалось добиться благоприятного решения быть признанным, существовать;
    быть распространенным, встречаться — the custom still *s in some districts этот обычай еще сохраняется в некоторых местах — these views no longer * эти взгляды устарели — the morals that *ed in Rome нравы, существовавшие в Риме
    obtain добиваться ~ доставать ~ достигать, добиваться ~ достигать ~ получать ~ получать;
    добывать;
    приобретать;
    to obtain a prize получить приз;
    to obtain a commission воен. быть произведенным в офицеры ~ приобретать ~ существовать, быть признанным;
    применяться;
    these views no longer obtain эти взгляды устарели;
    the same rule obtains regarding… то же правило относится и к…
    ~ получать;
    добывать;
    приобретать;
    to obtain a prize получить приз;
    to obtain a commission воен. быть произведенным в офицеры
    ~ получать;
    добывать;
    приобретать;
    to obtain a prize получить приз;
    to obtain a commission воен. быть произведенным в офицеры
    ~ существовать, быть признанным;
    применяться;
    these views no longer obtain эти взгляды устарели;
    the same rule obtains regarding… то же правило относится и к…
    ~ существовать, быть признанным;
    применяться;
    these views no longer obtain эти взгляды устарели;
    the same rule obtains regarding… то же правило относится и к…

    Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > obtain

  • 8
    obtain

    [əbʹteın]

    1. 1) получать, доставать, приобретать

    to obtain a prize [a reward] — получать приз [вознаграждение]

    he obtained his knowledge through years of hard study — он добился своих знаний годами упорной работы

    2) добиваться, достигать

    to obtain a position [what one wants] — добиться положения [желаемого]

    we managed to obtain a favourable settlement — нам удалось добиться благоприятного решения

    2. быть признанным, существовать; быть распространённым, встречаться

    the custom still obtains in some districts — этот обычай ещё сохраняется в некоторых местах

    the morals that obtained in Rome — нравы, существовавшие в Риме

    НБАРС > obtain

  • 9
    obtain

    Англо-русский синонимический словарь > obtain

  • 10
    obtain

    v

    получать, приобретать; добиваться, достигать

    English-russian dctionary of diplomacy > obtain

  • 11
    obtain

    1) составлять (диаграмму, номограмму)

    3) получать

    obtain approval получать согласие; согласовывать

    что-л.

    ;

    to obtain approval for application of А для согласования

    A; obtain smb.’s input выяснить чъи-л. соображения по поводу чего-л.; попросить кого-л. высказать свои соображения относительно чего-л.;

    obtain smb.’s refinements попросить кого-л. уточнить что-л.

    4) обзаводиться чем-л.

    Obtain the complete and most current information before starting any job[ Поэтому] прежде чем приступать к той или иной работе, следует обзавестись полной и наиболее отработанной информацией

    5) реализовываться

    English-Russian dictionary of scientific and technical difficulties vocabulary > obtain

  • 12
    obtain

    [əb’teɪn]

    1) получать; добывать; приобретать

    I climbed to obtain a general view of the surrounding scene. — Я взобрался выше, чтобы получше рассмотреть окрестности.

    Syn:

    2) существовать; применяться; иметь место

    This situation generally obtains in early language learning. — Такая ситуация обычна на ранних этапах обучения языку.

    These conditions no longer obtain. — Эти условия больше не соблюдаются.

    Syn:

    3)

    уст.

    достигать , доходить

    to obtain the age of smth. — достигнуть какого-л. возраста

    Англо-русский современный словарь > obtain

  • 13
    obtain

    English-Russian big medical dictionary > obtain

  • 14
    obtain

    получать; брать; достигать

    English-Russian dictionary on nuclear energy > obtain

  • 15
    obtain

    1) получать, приобретать

    2) достигать; добиваться

    obtain a license


    — obtain a patent
    — obtain patent protection
    — obtain priority from the U. S. filing date

    Patent terms dictionary > obtain

  • 16
    obtain

    1) получать, приобретать

    2) действовать, иметь силу

    to obtain bail — 1. найти поручителя 2. получить разрешение освободиться из-под стражи на поруки;

    Англо-русский юридический словарь > obtain

  • 17
    obtain

    verb

    1) получать; добывать; приобретать; to obtain a prize получить приз; to obtain а commission

    mil.

    быть произведенным в офицеры

    2) достигать, добиваться

    3) существовать, быть признанным; применяться; these views no longer obtain эти взгляды устарели; the same rule obtains regarding… то же правило относится и к…

    Syn:

    get

    * * *

    (v) получать; получить; приобрести; приобретать

    * * *

    доставать, получать

    * * *

    [ob·tain || əb’teɪn]
    получать, доставать, добывать, приобретать, добиваться, достигать

    * * *

    возыметь

    добиваться

    добиться

    добывать

    доставлять

    достигать

    достичь

    заиметь

    набути

    одержать

    получать

    получить

    применяться

    приобрести

    приобретать

    снискать

    существовать

    * * *

    1) получать
    2) а) редк. добиваться
    б) устар. иметь успех

    Новый англо-русский словарь > obtain

  • 18
    obtain

    Англо-русский технический словарь > obtain

  • 19
    obtain

    [əb’tem]

    v

    получать, доставать; достигать

    2000 самых употребительных английских слов > obtain

  • 20
    obtain

    Англо-русский словарь нефтегазовой промышленности > obtain

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См. также в других словарях:

  • Obtain — Ob*tain , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtained}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obtaining}.] [F. obtenir, L. obtinere; ob (see {Ob }) + tenere to hold. See {Tenable}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To hold; to keep; to possess. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] His mother, then, is mortal,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • obtain — I verb accumulate, achieve, acquire, adipisci, appropriate, arrive at, attain, be in receipt of, capture, collect, come into possession, consequi. earn, enter into possession, gain, gain possession, gather, get, get hold of, get possession of,… …   Law dictionary

  • Obtain — Ob*tain , v. i. 1. To gain or have a firm footing; to be recognized or established; to become prevalent or general; to prevail; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in summer. [1913 Webster] Sobriety hath by use obtained to signify… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • obtain — [əb tān′] vt. [ME obteinen < OFr obtenir < L obtinere, to obtain, prevail, maintain < ob (see OB ) + tenere, to hold: see TENANT] 1. to get possession of, esp. by some effort; procure 2. Archaic to arrive at; reach or achieve vi. 1. to… …   English World dictionary

  • obtain — (v.) early 15c., from M.Fr. obtenir (14c.), from L. obtinere hold, take hold of, acquire, from ob to (though perhaps intensive in this case; see OB (Cf. ob )) + tenere to hold (see TENET (Cf. tenet)). Related: Obtained; obtaining …   Etymology dictionary

  • obtain — *get, procure, secure, acquire, gain, win Analogous words: gain, *reach, achieve, attain: effect, fulfill, accomplish, *perform …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • obtain — is a formal and often pretentious word, and no one should be afraid of using the perfectly respectable word get in most contexts …   Modern English usage

  • obtain — [v] get, acquire access, accomplish, achieve, annex, attain, beg borrow or steal*, capture, chalk up*, collect, come by, compass, cop*, corral, drum up*, earn, effect, fetch, gain, gather, get at, get hold of*, get one’s hands on*, glean, gobble… …   New thesaurus

  • obtain — ► VERB 1) come into possession of; get. 2) formal be prevalent, customary, or established. DERIVATIVES obtainable adjective. ORIGIN Latin obtinere …   English terms dictionary

  • obtain — 01. Where can I [obtain] information about registering for regular courses? 02. Some medicinal herbs that were previously [obtainable] at health stores are now available only with a doctor s prescription. 03. I bought this CD at a store a few… …   Grammatical examples in English

  • obtain — verb formal 1 (T) to get something that you want, especially through your own effort, skill, or work: Further information can be obtained from head office. | They ve extended the growing season to obtain a larger crop. | the difficulty of… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

ob·tain

 (əb-tān′, ŏb-)

v. ob·tained, ob·tain·ing, ob·tains

v.tr.

To succeed in gaining possession of as the result of planning or endeavor; acquire.

v.intr.

1. To be in existence, in effect, or customary: «standards, proprieties that no longer obtain» (Meg Greenfield).

2. Archaic To succeed.


[Middle English obteinen, from Old French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre : ob-, intensive pref.; see ob- + tenēre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]


ob·tain′a·ble adj.

ob·tain′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

obtain

(əbˈteɪn)

vb

1. (tr) to gain possession of; acquire; get

2. (intr) to be customary, valid, or accepted: a new law obtains in this case.

3. (tr) archaic to arrive at

4. (intr) archaic to win a victory; succeed

[C15: via Old French from Latin obtinēre to take hold of, from ob- (intensive) + tenēre to hold]

obˈtainable adj

obˌtainaˈbility n

obˈtainer n

obˈtainment n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ob•tain

(əbˈteɪn)
v.t.

1. to come into possession of; get, acquire, or procure, as through effort or request.

2. Obs. to attain or reach.

v.i.

3. to be prevalent, customary, or in vogue: the morals that obtained in Rome.

4. Archaic. to succeed.

[1375–1425; < Middle French obtenir « Latin obtinēre to take hold of =ob- ob- + -tinēre, comb. form of tenere to hold]

ob•tain′a•ble, adj.

ob•tain`a•bil′i•ty, n.

ob•tain′er, n.

ob•tain′ment, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

obtain

1. ‘obtain’

If you obtain something that you want or need, you get it.

I made another attempt to obtain employment.

He had obtained the papers during his visits to Berlin.

2. ‘get’

‘Obtain’ is a formal word. You don’t usually use it in conversation. Instead you use get.

I got a job at the factory.

He had been having trouble getting a hotel room.

In writing, obtain is often used in the passive.

All the above items can be obtained from most supermarkets.

You need to know where this kind of information can be obtained.

Be Careful!
You don’t usually use ‘get’ in the passive. Don’t say, for example, ‘Maps can be got from the Tourist Office‘. Say ‘Maps can be obtained from the Tourist Office’ or, in conversation, ‘You can get maps from the Tourist Office’.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

obtain

Past participle: obtained
Gerund: obtaining

Imperative
obtain
obtain
Present
I obtain
you obtain
he/she/it obtains
we obtain
you obtain
they obtain
Preterite
I obtained
you obtained
he/she/it obtained
we obtained
you obtained
they obtained
Present Continuous
I am obtaining
you are obtaining
he/she/it is obtaining
we are obtaining
you are obtaining
they are obtaining
Present Perfect
I have obtained
you have obtained
he/she/it has obtained
we have obtained
you have obtained
they have obtained
Past Continuous
I was obtaining
you were obtaining
he/she/it was obtaining
we were obtaining
you were obtaining
they were obtaining
Past Perfect
I had obtained
you had obtained
he/she/it had obtained
we had obtained
you had obtained
they had obtained
Future
I will obtain
you will obtain
he/she/it will obtain
we will obtain
you will obtain
they will obtain
Future Perfect
I will have obtained
you will have obtained
he/she/it will have obtained
we will have obtained
you will have obtained
they will have obtained
Future Continuous
I will be obtaining
you will be obtaining
he/she/it will be obtaining
we will be obtaining
you will be obtaining
they will be obtaining
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been obtaining
you have been obtaining
he/she/it has been obtaining
we have been obtaining
you have been obtaining
they have been obtaining
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been obtaining
you will have been obtaining
he/she/it will have been obtaining
we will have been obtaining
you will have been obtaining
they will have been obtaining
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been obtaining
you had been obtaining
he/she/it had been obtaining
we had been obtaining
you had been obtaining
they had been obtaining
Conditional
I would obtain
you would obtain
he/she/it would obtain
we would obtain
you would obtain
they would obtain
Past Conditional
I would have obtained
you would have obtained
he/she/it would have obtained
we would have obtained
you would have obtained
they would have obtained

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Verb 1. obtain — come into possession of; «How did you obtain the visa?»

carry — secure the passage or adoption (of bills and motions); «The motion carried easily»

dig up, excavate, turn up — find by digging in the ground; «I dug up an old box in the garden»

wring from, extort — get or cause to become in a difficult or laborious manner

kite — get credit or money by using a bad check; «The businessman kited millions of dollars»

acquire, get — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract; «She got a lot of paintings from her uncle»; «They acquired a new pet»; «Get your results the next day»; «Get permission to take a few days off from work»

source — get (a product) from another country or business; «She sourced a supply of carpet»; «They are sourcing from smaller companies»

procure, secure — get by special effort; «He procured extra cigarettes even though they were rationed»

extract — get despite difficulties or obstacles; «I extracted a promise from the Dean for two new positions»

take out — obtain by legal or official process; «take out a license»; «take out a patent»

get in, get into — secure a place in a college, university, etc.

eke out, squeeze out — obtain with difficulty; «He eked out some information from the archives»

gain, derive — obtain; «derive pleasure from one’s garden»

shop — do one’s shopping; «She goes shopping every Friday»

snag — get by acting quickly and smartly; «snag a bargain»

grab — obtain illegally or unscrupulously; «Grab power»

2. obtain — receive a specified treatment (abstract); «These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation»; «His movie received a good review»; «I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions»

change — undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one’s or its original nature; «She changed completely as she grew older»; «The weather changed last night»

take — ascertain or determine by measuring, computing or take a reading from a dial; «take a pulse»; «A reading was taken of the earth’s tremors»

acquire, get — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract; «She got a lot of paintings from her uncle»; «They acquired a new pet»; «Get your results the next day»; «Get permission to take a few days off from work»

3. obtain — be valid, applicable, or true; «This theory still holds»

exist, be — have an existence, be extant; «Is there a God?»

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

obtain

verb

1. get, gain, acquire, land, net, pick up, bag, secure, get hold of, come by, procure, get your hands on, score (slang), come into possession of Evans was trying to obtain a false passport.
get lose, give up, hand over, surrender, relinquish, renounce, forfeit, forgo

3. (Formal) prevail, hold, stand, exist, be the case, abound, predominate, be in force, be current, be prevalent The longer this situation obtains, the bigger the problems will be.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

obtain

verb

To come into possession of:

The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

obdržetzískat

opnå

hankkiapitää hallussaan

nabaviti

kapmegkap

afla

手に入れる持つ持っている取得する

획득하다

gaunamasįsigyjamas

iegūt, dabūt

avea

dobiti

erhållaskaffa

ได้รับ

giành được

Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

obtain

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

obtain

(əbˈtein) verb

to get; to become the possessor of. He obtained a large sum of money by buying and selling houses.

obˈtainable adjective

(negative unobtainable).

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

obtain

يَحْصُلُ عَلَى obdržet opnå erhalten προμηθεύομαι obtener hankkia obtenir nabaviti ottenere 手に入れる 획득하다 verkrijgen oppnå uzyskać obter получать skaffa ได้รับ elde etmek giành được 获得

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

obtain

v. obtener, adquirir, conseguir.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

Other forms: obtained; obtaining; obtains

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.

Definitions of obtain

  1. verb

    come into possession of

    “How did you
    obtain the visa?”

    see moresee less

    types:

    show 27 types…
    hide 27 types…
    carry

    secure the passage or adoption (of bills and motions)

    dig up, excavate, turn up

    find by digging in the ground

    extort, wring from

    get or cause to become in a difficult or laborious manner

    kite

    get credit or money by using a bad check

    source

    get (a product) from another country or business

    procure, secure

    get by special effort

    extract

    get despite difficulties or obstacles

    take out

    obtain by legal or official process

    get in, get into

    secure a place in a college, university, etc.

    eke out, squeeze out

    obtain with difficulty

    bum, cadge, grub, mooch, sponge

    ask for and get free; be a parasite

    derive, gain

    obtain

    shop

    do one’s shopping

    snag

    get by acting quickly and smartly

    grab

    obtain illegally or unscrupulously

    suborn

    procure (false testimony or perjury)

    grub out, grub up

    dig up

    nuzzle

    dig out with the snout

    prise, pry

    make an uninvited or presumptuous inquiry

    copyright

    secure a copyright on a written work

    patent

    obtain a patent for

    engage, enlist

    hire for work or assistance

    freeload

    live off somebody’s generosity

    draw, reap

    get or derive

    market

    buy household supplies

    outsource

    obtain goods or services from an outside supplier; to contract work out

    disinter, exhume

    dig up for reburial or for medical investigation; of dead bodies

    type of:

    acquire, get

    come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

  2. verb

    receive a specified treatment (abstract)

    synonyms:

    find, get, incur, receive

    acquire, get

    come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

    see moresee less

    types:

    take

    ascertain or determine by measuring, computing or take a reading from a dial

    type of:

    change

    undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one’s or its original nature

  3. verb

    be valid, applicable, or true

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘obtain’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

  • obtein, obteyn (obsolete)

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English obteinen, from Anglo-Norman obtenir, optiner et al., and Middle French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre (to gain, achieve, succeed, possess), from ob- + tenēre (to hold).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /əbˈteɪn/
  • Rhymes: -eɪn
  • Homophone: abthane

Verb[edit]

obtain (third-person singular simple present obtains, present participle obtaining, simple past and past participle obtained)

  1. (transitive) To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way. [from 15th c.]
    • 1814 July, [Jane Austen], chapter III, in Mansfield Park: [], volume II, London: [] T[homas] Egerton, [], →OCLC, page 64:

      [] Julia was quite as eager for novelty and pleasure as Maria, though she might not have struggled through so much to obtain them, and could better bear a subordinate situation.

    • 2013 June 21, Oliver Burkeman, “The tao of tech”, in The Guardian Weekly[1], volume 189, number 2, page 48:

      But the real way to build a successful online business is to be better than your rivals at undermining people’s control of their own attention. Partly, this is a result of how online advertising has traditionally worked: advertisers pay for clicks, and a click is a click, however it’s obtained.

  2. (intransitive, obsolete) To secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached. [15th–19th c.]
    • 1722, Daniel Defoe, Colonel Jack:
      he was condemned to die for the felony, and being so well known for an old offender, had certainly died, but the merchant, upon his earnest application, had obtained that he should be transported, on condition that he restored all the rest of his bills, which he had done accordingly.
  3. (intransitive, obsolete) To prevail, be victorious; to succeed. [15th–19th c.]
    • 1701, Jonathan Swift, Contests and Dissentions in Athens and Rome:
      This, though it failed at present, yet afterward obtained, and was a mighty step to the ruin of the commonwealth.
  4. (transitive, obsolete) To hold; to keep, possess or occupy. [15th–18th c.]
    • 1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: [] J. M[acock] for John Starkey [], →OCLC, lines 76–79, page 6:

      His mother then is mortal, but his Sire / He who obtains the monarchy of Heav’n, / And what will he not do to advance his Son?

  5. (intransitive, archaic) To exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force. [from 17th c.]
    • 1908, Jack London, chapter 17, in The Iron Heel[2], New York: The Macmillan Company:

      Even though the Pervaise confession had never come to light, no reasonable doubt could obtain; for the act in question [] was on a par with countless other acts committed by the oligarchs, and, before them, by the capitalists.

    • 1942 July-August, T. F. Cameron, “How the Staff of a Railway is Recruited”, in Railway Magazine, page 207:

      In connection with the various courses of practical instruction, the companies maintain signalling schools fitted with standard railway equipment in which the staff can be given instructions under conditions exactly similar to those which obtain in signal boxes.

Conjugation[edit]

Synonyms[edit]

  • (to gain possession of): get, gain, acquire, attain, procure

Derived terms[edit]

  • obtainment

[edit]

Translations[edit]

to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way See also translations at get hold of,‎ procure,‎ acquire

  • Albanian: please add this translation if you can
  • Arabic: حَصَلَ(ḥaṣala)
  • Armenian: ստանալ (hy) (stanal)
  • Azerbaijani: almaq (az), əldə etmək (az)
  • Belarusian: атры́мліваць impf (atrýmlivacʹ), атрыма́ць pf (atrymácʹ), набыва́ць impf (nabyvácʹ), набы́ць pf (nabýcʹ)
  • Bulgarian: доби́вам (bg) impf (dobívam), доби́я pf (dobíja), получавам (bg) (polučavam), спечелвам (bg) (spečelvam)
  • Burmese:  (my) (ra.), ရယူ (my) (ra.yu)
  • Catalan: obtenir (ca), aconseguir (ca)
  • Cherokee: (long object) ᎠᏱᎭ (ayiha)
  • Chinese:
    Mandarin: 獲得获得 (zh) (huòdé)
  • Czech: získávat (cs) impf, získat (cs) pf
  • Danish: erholde, opnå
  • Dutch: verkrijgen (nl)
  • Esperanto: please add this translation if you can
  • Estonian: hankima
  • Etruscan: 𐌂𐌀𐌅𐌄 (cave)
  • Finnish: hankkia (fi)
  • French: obtenir (fr), se procurer (fr)
  • Galician: obter (gl)
  • German: erlangen (de), erhalten (de)
  • Gothic: 𐌲𐌰𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍉𐌽 (gatilōn)
  • Greek:
    Ancient: κτάομαι (ktáomai)
  • Hebrew: הִשִּׂיג (he) (hisíg)
  • Hindi: प्राप्त करना (prāpt karnā), पाना (hi) (pānā)
  • Hungarian: kap (hu), megkap (hu), szerez (hu), megszerez (hu), jut (hu), hozzájut (hu), szert tesz (hu), elnyer (hu)
  • Ido: obtenar (io)
  • Irish: faigh (ga), bain
    Old Irish: ad·cota
  • Italian: ottenere (it)
  • Japanese: 手に入れる (ja) (te ni ireru), 取得する (ja) (しゅとくする, shutoku suru), 獲得する (ja) (かくとくする, kakutoku suru)
  • Khmer: បាន (km) (baan), យក (km) (yɔɔk)
  • Korean: 얻다 (ko) (eotda), 획득하다 (ko) (hoekdeukhada)
  • Kurdish:
    Central Kurdish: دەسکەوتن(deskewtin), پەیداکردن(peydakirdin)
  • Latin: potior, nanciscor, assequor, consequor, impetro, obtineo (la)
  • Latvian: dabūt, iegūt
  • Lithuanian: gauti (lt), įgauti
  • Macedonian: добива impf (dobiva), добие pf (dobie)
  • Mongolian: please add this translation if you can
  • North Frisian: (Mooring) füünj, (Föhr-Amrum) fu
  • Norwegian:
    Bokmål: erholde, innhente (no)
  • Persian: به دست آوردن(be dast âvardan), گرفتن (fa) (gereftan)
  • Polish: dostawać (pl) impf, dostać (pl) pf, otrzymywać (pl) impf, otrzymać (pl) pf, uzyskiwać (pl) impf, uzyskać (pl) pf, nabywać (pl) impf, nabyć (pl) pf
  • Portuguese: obter (pt)
  • Romanian: obține (ro)
  • Russian: добыва́ть (ru) impf (dobyvátʹ), добы́ть (ru) pf (dobýtʹ), достава́ть (ru) impf (dostavátʹ), доста́ть (ru) pf (dostátʹ), получа́ть (ru) impf (polučátʹ), получи́ть (ru) pf (polučítʹ)
  • Sanskrit: लभते (sa) (labhate)
  • Slovak: získavať impf, získať pf, dostávať impf, dostať pf
  • Slovene: dobiti, pridobiti
  • Spanish: obtener (es), coger (es)
  • Swedish: erhålla (sv)
  • Tajik: ба даст овардан (ba dast ovardan), гирифтан (tg) (giriftan)
  • Telugu: సమకూర్చుకొను (samakūrcukonu)
  • Thai: ฟาด (th) (fâat), รับ (th) (ráp), ลุ (th) (), แอ้ม (th) (ɛ̂ɛm)
  • Tocharian B: kälp-
  • Turkish: elde etmek (tr), almak (tr)
  • Ukrainian: отри́мувати impf (otrýmuvaty), отри́мати pf (otrýmaty), здобува́ти (uk) impf (zdobuváty), здобу́ти (uk) pf (zdobúty)
  • Urdu: حاصل کرنا(hāsil karnā), پانا(pānā)
  • Uzbek: olmoq (uz), topmoq (uz)
  • Vietnamese: đạt được, thu được, giành được, kiếm được

(obsolete in English) to secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached

(obsolete in English) to prevail, be victorious; to succeed See also translations at prevail,‎ succeed

Anagrams[edit]

  • Bonita, batino, boat-in

And the very things which the Jews speak of the Hebrew word obtain also in the Greek. ❋ 1602-1675 (1979)

Recently, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York (ABCNY) posted an Ethics Opinion commenting on the developing issue of what lawyers may properly obtain from the Internet concerning clients or adversaries. ❋ Bill Singer (2010)

But also, as previously mentioned, what most people really obtain is not so much insurance (characterized by infrequent events and high payouts) but rather a product called insurance that really functions as insulation or consumption smoothing (characterized by frequent events and low pay outs). ❋ Xtra (2009)

He seems not to accept «authority» in any terms other than those that might obtain from a guarantee of preservation from all error by the Spirit. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The central & north European pies I tasted were on par with what one might obtain from a day old Chuck-E-Cheese slice, after it has been carefully aged on the floor of a truck stop bathroom in Gaffney, SC. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Many figures were obtain from the Norton Online Living Report by Symantec. ❋ Unknown (2008)

They will not obtain from the book a sound knowledge of the basics of the subjects under discussion, nor will they be in a position to judge the relative credibility of conventional ideas and Penrose’s alternatives. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Nick are you an idiot or a college student with a life that daddy pays for? if you add FL and MI the number to obtain is 2210 not 2026. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Her charity for her neighbor made her grieve bitterly that there should be so many sinful men in danger of eternal death; and by constant prayer, together with voluntary sufferings, she strove to obtain from the divine mercy that they might return to the path of salvation, with the help of divine grace. ❋ John (2008)

There is an Official Guide to Driving a Car In Mexico published by the Sectretaria of Turismo that you can obtain from the Mexican Government Tourism Office in all major cities in the US and Canada. ❋ Unknown (2007)

Finally, if the FBI Director were to attempt to use an open-ended NSL for a fishing expedition to obtain from a service provider a vast swath of phone records of multitudes of persons, that might well raise serious Fourth Amendment questions in its own right, because even subpoenas must be sufficiently limited in scope, relevant in purpose, and specific in directive so that compliance will not be unreasonably burdensome. ❋ Unknown (2006)

You can now also try out our brand new English to Hindi translation service, and the translated search feature that lets you query in Hindi, obtain search results for the translated query in English, and then see the Hindi translations of these results. ❋ Unknown (2008)

The one ingredient that is hard to obtain from the regular grocery shop is the baby eggplants. ❋ Unknown (2006)

This class of barrel is the best choice for a hunting rifle because any gain in accuracy you’d obtain from a more expensive barrel would go unrealized in the field. ❋ Unknown (2005)

You find yourself bombarded with text book information (that you could just as well obtain from a library) at a predetermined rate, without consideration about if the child is ready/willing to learn it. ❋ Unknown (2005)

I am going to obtain an [STI] from this chick in [Chicago], its gonna be [rad]. ❋ Dr. Aarben (2014)

[Andrew] [MacPherson] can’t obtain the [understanding] of the word obtain. ❋ Guy234587 (2014)

You: [Lets get this bread]
I, [an intellect]: [Lets obtain the grain] ❋ Awholemess (2019)

[Grocery list]: [Bread]
OK boys [Lets obtain the grain] ❋ Lets_obtain_this_grain (2018)

[Yo bro] I just heard [Ellie] just told everyone the easy [steps] to obtaining banana soule! ❋ Fire_wall876 (2021)

  • Top Definitions
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This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.


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.

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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

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

Words nearby obtain

obstruct, obstruction, obstructionist, obstructive, obstruent, obtain, obtaining by deception, obtect, obtemper, obtest, obtrude

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

Words related to obtain

access, achieve, attain, collect, earn, gain, gather, glean, have, pick up, procure, purchase, reach, realize, reap, receive, recover, retrieve, secure, seize

How to use obtain in a sentence

  • Many schools were created in churches because obtaining funding to build separate structures was difficult.

  • The disconnect disproportionately affects low-income Americans and people of color, further depriving them of access to the tools they need to obtain financial help, find jobs and otherwise participate in digital life.

  • In addition, since the contracts we analyzed and reviewed consisted only of those we could obtain from the PERC website, they may not be representative of all contracts in New Jersey.

  • They stand about eight feet apart, according to the video, which was obtained by The Washington Post.

  • Many of the owners, including 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater, installed the protections without first obtaining the state’s permission.

  • In order to extend their legal residence in the United States, they had to obtain other visas.

  • Rebels in Africa trade in children to fund their conflicts and obtain child soldiers.

  • That McCulloch failed to obtain an indictment of Wilson means only one thing: He did not want to obtain an indictment.

  • The investigation stems from Dec. 2013 charges that 25 Russian diplomats allegedly tried to obtain fraudulent Medicaid benefits.

  • The interview then shifts to interrogation, which is a conversation intended to obtain inculpatory statements.

  • The worst loss is that of Winston’s ear; high principles won’t obtain high explosives.

  • The startled operators at Umballa could obtain no further intelligence and the boy was slain at his post.

  • In the course of time, absolution for the sacrilege was obtained from the Pope; but my father could never obtain it from himself.

  • Yet there never was lacking a volunteer, either man or woman, to go to that well and obtain the precious water.

  • Allcraft took care to obtain the consent of Bellamy to his arrangement.

British Dictionary definitions for obtain


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

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