OBTAINS Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

obtains

verb

Definition of obtains next

present tense third-person singular of obtain

as in earns

to receive as return for effort after years of proving herself, she obtained recognition as a serious journalist

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of obtains Twin Rivers obtains an annual waiver from the Sacramento County Office of Education to be exempt from this requirement. —

Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 14 Mar. 2026 The village obtains its water from the city of Elgin at a rate of about $100 per 1,000 gallons, Hof said. —

Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026 The appeals court’s decision means Haitians with TPS can continue to work and remain protected from deportation unless the government obtains a stay from the Supreme Court or until the case is heard in full in federal court and the Haitian plaintiffs lose their appeal, which could take months. —

Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026 When assessing which military is responsible for a particular strike – in any conflict – CNN typically obtains images of the remnants of the weapons used in the attack and provides these to munitions experts so that their provenance can be assessed. —

Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026 Trump largely reiterated his red lines in the address, maintaining that the mission is necessary to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. —

Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 1 Mar. 2026 Before this hearing, a dependency investigator obtains medical records and interviews caregivers, babysitters, relatives, therapists, the kids themselves, and, ideally, the parents. —

Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 While most data the WHO obtains is ultimately made available to the public, member nations have greater access to detailed information about collection methods and gain access sooner, as new threats are emerging. —

Jordan Miller, The Conversation, 31 Jan. 2026 However, if the debt collection agency files a lawsuit over the unpaid balance and obtains a judgment against you, that judgment could appear on your credit report and damage your credit score. —

Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtains

Verb

Our expert take The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns transferrable miles, which is a stand-out benefit for a no-annual-fee card.

— Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
Someone making a few dollars over 400% of the federal poverty level earns too much to get a subsidy now, and in some states average premium payments were due to at least triple for this group.

— Tribune News Service, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026