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?

If you have difficulty choosing whether to use obtain or attain in a sentence, don’t worry, we get it. Both can mean “to get” or “to acquire,” and in some situations can be used synonymously, but one or the other might be more appropriate depending on what is being acquired and how. One clue is their respective etymologies: obtain comes to us via Anglo-French from the Latin verb obtinēre, meaning “to hold on to, possess,” while attain’s Anglo-French ancestor is ateindre, meaning “to reach” or “to accomplish.” Accordingly, obtain is usually the word used when you are acquiring, by planned effort, a tangible object—something you can hold. “We are having trouble obtaining the supplies we need” sounds natural, for example, while “Have you attained the sugar and flour I asked for?” does not. Reflecting its roots (and also implying effort), attain is often used in the same way as achieve, as in “After decades of hard work she attained her goal of earning a PhD.” Of course, one can also obtain intangible things, such as power or information, so consider this advice something to hold onto and consider when the moment arises—you needn’t cling to it.

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

Examples of obtain in a Sentence

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

Holloway angrily insists, as seen in bodycam video obtained by NJ.com. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2025

Detectives with the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit and the Crime Scene Services Section responded to the scene at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said in a news release obtained by PEOPLE. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025

Tribe President Anthony Reider said the executive committee and leadership council voted to remove the ban in a Tuesday letter obtained by the local newspaper, the Argus Leader. —Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2025

Further details about the investigation were not included in the documents obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2025

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

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Kids Definition

obtain

verb

ob·​tain əb-ˈtān 

äb-

1

: to gain or acquire usually by planning or effort

2

: to be generally recognized or established : prevail sense 3b

good manners obtained

obtainable

-ˈtā-nə-bəl 

adjective