obtain
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
-
to be prevalent, customary, or in vogue; prevail.
the morals that obtained in Rome.
-
Archaic. to succeed.
verb
-
(tr) to gain possession of; acquire; get
-
(intr) to be customary, valid, or accepted
a new law obtains in this case
-
archaic (tr) to arrive at
-
archaic (intr) to win a victory; succeed
Related Words
See get.
Other Word Forms
- obtainability noun
- obtainable adjective
- obtainer noun
- obtainment noun
- preobtain verb (used with object)
- preobtainable adjective
- reobtain verb (used with object)
- reobtainable adjective
- unobtainable adjective
- unobtained adjective
Etymology
Origin of obtain
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English obteinen, from Middle French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre “to take hold of,” equivalent to ob- ob- ( def. ) + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some tech leaders attribute the drop in industry employment mostly to overhiring following the pandemic, when skilled labor was hard to obtain and retain.
From MarketWatch
Documents obtained by the Creek Team detail chemicals used in 2024 to “eradicate nuisance weeds” in flood control channels, or “washes,” as many Southern Californians know them.
From Los Angeles Times
It also says that if the president deploys US troops for a military action for more than 60 days, the head of state must then obtain the authorization of Congress for continued action.
From Barron's
BBC Verify has obtained satellite imagery taken over the city on Saturday morning, which shows significant damage to part of the compound of Leadership House, the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
From BBC
It would have been nice if the first move was obtaining players who excel at defense.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
