Obtain Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 5, 2024
To obtain means to gain possession or acquire something, often through effort, purchase, or request. It involves successfully getting hold of something desired or needed. e.g., She worked hard to obtain her driver's license.
Table of Contents
Obtain Definitions
To acquire or get possession of something.
He managed to obtain the rare book he wanted.
To receive something as a result of asking or requesting.
They obtained permission to build the extension.
To come into possession of something by searching.
They obtained valuable information from the research.
To gather or collect something.
He obtained samples from different locations for the study.
To derive or get something from a specified source.
The data was obtained from various scientific studies.
To achieve or bring about a particular result.
Their strategy obtained the desired outcome.
To achieve or attain something through effort.
She obtained her goal of running a marathon.
To procure or purchase something.
You can obtain fresh produce at the farmers' market.
To gain or earn something, usually through merit or qualifications.
She obtained a scholarship for her academic excellence.
To succeed in gaining possession of as the result of planning or endeavor; acquire.
To be in existence, in effect, or customary
"standards, proprieties that no longer obtain" (Meg Greenfield).
(Archaic) To succeed.
(transitive) To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
To secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached.
To prevail, be victorious; to succeed.
To hold; to keep, possess or occupy.
To exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force.
To hold; to keep; to possess.
His mother, then, is mortal, but his SireHe who obtains the monarchy of heaven.
To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way.
Some pray for riches; riches they obtain.
By guileful fair words peace may be obtained.
It may be that I may obtain children by her.
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.
Sobriety hath by use obtained to signify temperance in drinking.
The Theodosian code, several hundred years after Justinian's time, did obtain in the western parts of Europe.
To prevail; to succeed.
So run that ye may obtain.
There is due from the judge to the advocate, some commendation, where causes are fair pleaded; especially towards the side which obtaineth not.
Come into possession of;
How did you obtain the visa?
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
Be valid, applicable, or true;
This theory still holds
To secure something through application or effort.
He obtained a patent for his invention.
Obtain Snonyms
Secure
To gain possession of something through effort or skill.
He secured the necessary permissions to start the project.
Gain
To get something that is desired, beneficial, or useful.
He gained a reputation for his expertise in the field.
Attain
To achieve, accomplish, or gain something as a result of effort.
After years of study, she attained her degree.
Procure
To obtain something, especially with care or effort.
They procured the necessary ingredients for the recipe.
Fetch
To go for and then bring back something.
He fetched a high price for his antique collection.
Win
To succeed in obtaining or achieving, especially by conquering obstacles.
He won the award for his innovative design.
Acquire
To come into possession of something through effort.
She managed to acquire the rare book at an auction.
Collect
To gather together; accumulate.
He collects stamps from different countries.
Receive
To be given or presented with something.
She received a letter of acceptance from the university.
Earn
To receive something in return for effort or work.
She earned respect for her hard work and dedication.
Obtain Idioms & Phrases
Obtain the upper hand
To gain an advantage in a situation.
In the negotiations, she managed to obtain the upper hand by presenting strong evidence.
Obtain by the skin of one's teeth
To barely manage to get something, often by a narrow margin or in a difficult situation.
He managed to obtain the last ticket to the concert by the skin of his teeth.
Obtain a bird's eye view
To get a broad or comprehensive perspective on a situation or problem.
To fully understand the city's layout, one must obtain a bird's eye view from the top of the skyscraper.
Obtain a new lease on life
To gain a renewed enthusiasm for life, often after overcoming a difficulty or challenge.
After his successful surgery, he felt like he had obtained a new lease on life.
Obtain the green light
To receive permission or approval to proceed with something.
After months of planning, they finally obtained the green light to start the project.
Hard to obtain
Something that is difficult to acquire or achieve.
The scholarship was hard to obtain, but her dedication and hard work paid off.
Obtain a milestone
To achieve an important stage or event in a process or development.
The team celebrated as they obtained a significant milestone in their research.
Easier said than obtained
Acknowledging that while something might be easy to talk about, it is much more difficult to actually achieve or acquire.
A peaceful resolution to the conflict is easier said than obtained.
Obtain a foothold
To establish a secure position or a starting point, especially in a new area or field.
The small company struggled to obtain a foothold in the competitive tech industry.
Obtain a grasp on reality
To understand and accept the true nature of a situation.
He needed to obtain a grasp on reality and accept that the job was beyond his current capabilities.
Obtain one's bearings
To find one's position or understand one's situation in relation to the surroundings.
After arriving in the new city, it took him a few days to obtain his bearings.
Obtain the heart of the matter
To get to the central or most important issue in a situation.
The detective was determined to obtain the heart of the matter in the investigation.
Obtain a foot in the door
To achieve an initial position from which further progress can be made.
His internship allowed him to obtain a foot in the door in the finance industry.
Obtain the short end of the stick
To receive the least favorable part of a deal or arrangement.
In the agreement, he felt like he obtained the short end of the stick.
Obtain a taste for something
To develop a liking or preference for something.
After living in Italy, she obtained a taste for authentic Italian cuisine.
Obtain a wake-up call
To receive an event or situation that causes someone to realize they need to change their behavior or approach.
The health scare was the wake-up call he needed to obtain a healthier lifestyle.
Obtain a second wind
To gain renewed energy or strength after feeling tired or worn out.
After resting briefly, she obtained a second wind and completed the marathon.
Obtain the lion's share
To receive the largest portion or share of something.
In the partnership, she obtained the lion's share of the profits due to her significant investment.
Obtain a blank slate
To start something anew with a fresh approach, without preconceptions.
Moving to a new city allowed her to obtain a blank slate for her career.
Obtain Example Sentences
She hoped to obtain good grades on her report card.
To enter the contest, you must first obtain a ticket.
To build the model, they had to obtain special parts.
The scientist aimed to obtain accurate results from the experiment.
You can obtain a map at the visitor center.
He tried to obtain information about the event.
She needed to obtain her parents' consent.
We must obtain the necessary tools for the project.
To fix the bike, he had to obtain a new tire.
To bake the cake, they had to obtain fresh ingredients.
They needed to obtain permission before starting the renovation.
They were excited to obtain autographs from their favorite author.
The detective sought to obtain evidence for the case.
To travel abroad, one must obtain a passport.
She went to the library to obtain books for her research.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide obtain into syllables?
"Obtain" is divided into syllables as "ob-tain."
Why is it called obtain?
"Obtain" is called so because it comes from the Latin word "obtinere," meaning to hold or to get.
How many syllables are in obtain?
There are two syllables in "obtain."
How is obtain used in a sentence?
Example: "She managed to obtain the necessary permissions."
What is the verb form of obtain?
"Obtain" itself is a verb.
What is the pronunciation of obtain?
Obtain is pronounced as /əbˈteɪn/.
What is another term for obtain?
Another term for "obtain" is "acquire."
What is a stressed syllable in obtain?
The stressed syllable in "obtain" is the second one: -tain.
What is the third form of obtain?
The third form (past participle) of "obtain" is "obtained."
What is the first form of obtain?
The first form (base form) of "obtain" is "obtain."
Is obtain a negative or positive word?
"Obtain" is neutral; it can be used in both positive and negative contexts.
Is obtain a vowel or consonant?
"Obtain" is a word, not a single vowel or consonant.
Is the obtain term a metaphor?
"Obtain" can be used metaphorically in some contexts.
What is the root word of obtain?
The root word of "obtain" is the Latin "obtinere."
What part of speech is obtain?
"Obtain" is a verb.
Is obtain an adverb?
No, "obtain" is not an adverb.
Is obtain an abstract noun?
"Obtain" is a verb, not a noun, so it cannot be an abstract noun.
Is the word obtain Gerund?
The gerund form of "obtain" is "obtaining."
What is the singular form of obtain?
The singular form is "obtains" as in "He obtains information."
Is obtain a noun or adjective?
"Obtain" is a verb, not a noun or adjective.
Is the word “obtain” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Obtain" is a verb and can take both direct and indirect objects, depending on the sentence.
Which determiner is used with obtain?
Determiners like "a," "the," "some," or "any" can be used, depending on the context.
What is the second form of obtain?
The second form (past simple) of "obtain" is "obtained."
What is the plural form of obtain?
The plural form is "obtain" as in "They obtain results."
Is obtain a countable noun?
"Obtain" is a verb, not a noun, so it is neither countable nor uncountable.
Is the word obtain imperative?
"Obtain" can be used in the imperative form, as in "Obtain the documents."
Which preposition is used with obtain?
Prepositions like "from" or "through" are commonly used with "obtain."
Which conjunction is used with obtain?
Conjunctions such as "and," "but," or "because" can be used with "obtain," depending on the sentence.
What is the opposite of obtain?
The opposite of "obtain" is "lose" or "forfeit."
Is obtain a collective noun?
No, "obtain" is not a collective noun.
Which vowel is used before obtain?
Any vowel can precede "obtain," depending on the context and the preceding word.
Which article is used with obtain?
As a verb, "obtain" does not directly take an article; the article would be for the noun it relates to.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
