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obtain

verb

əb-ˈtān How to pronounce obtain (audio)
Definition of obtainnext
as in to earn
to receive as return for effort after years of proving herself, she obtained recognition as a serious journalist

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 obtain But the Supreme Court majority found that a 1996 law explicitly allows DHS to obtain information on citizenship and immigration from other federal agencies. — Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 For the first, obtaining a visa may simply be an inconvenience that can be incorporated into the calendar. — Jean Francois Harvey, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 All flaggers are now required to reach their jobsites by hitching a ride on a nearby subway instead of walking through the tunnels, according to a service bulletin sent Monday to all subway staff and obtained by the Daily News. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026 After obtaining warrants, investigators searched Boutte’s home and the post office. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obtain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtain
  1. earn
  2. gain
  3. win
  4. reap
  5. garner
  6. get
  7. make
  8. attain
Verb
  • More than 1,000 employees have moved into driving roles through the program, where first-year drivers can make up to $115,000 annually and more experienced drivers can earn up to $135,000, according to the company.
    — Alice Barlow, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The Associated Press SHENZHEN, China -- SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Elina Svitolina slammed her racket on the court to celebrate earning Ukraine a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup final for the first time Saturday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of earn
Verb
  • Rooms Since its 2023 renovation, the hotel’s capacity decreased from 104 rooms to just 80, made up of 44 rooms and 36 suites, all of which have gained a generous amount of space.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Sporting black turtlenecks a la Steve Jobs, Holmes first gained renown and then infamy as the tech was unmasked as fraudulent by the Wall Street Journal and a subsequent federal investigation.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of gain
Verb
  • McGovern lost, Obama won—but Obama won the presidency without transforming the Democratic foreign-policy class.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The Moroccan Constitution requires the king to appoint the head of government from the party that wins the most seats in legislative elections.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of win
Verb
  • Know More Democratic incumbents in tight races are hoping to reap electoral benefits from 2028 candidates who are coming through their districts.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The tech sector of the S&P 500 has seen its forward price/earnings multiple contract from 29 to 21 in the past year with the market unwilling to extrapolate the profit surge in the absence of a clear path back to reaping oodles of free cash flow.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of reap
Verb
  • Regarding the types of self-service devices currently in use, the research showed that self-checkout terminals remain the most widely adopted at 89 percent, while scan-and-go via smartphone apps garnered 77 percent.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Fairlane has garnered a string of unflattering headlines in recent years, including for unpaid taxes and utility bills, unplowed snow in the parking lot and a 2024 Christmas tree inside the mall that wasn't take down until this year.
    — JC Reindl, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of garner
Verb
  • Menopausal women spent years unable to get relief from the potentially deadly but often preventable effects of recurrent urinary tract infections, due to the FDA’s black box warning for estrogen products.
    — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Even if Xi’s trip proves to be more form than function, Lyle Goldstein, the director of the Asia Program at Defense Priorities, argued that getting the pair in the same room is a step in the right direction.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of get
Verb
  • Many of the condition’s early signs, such as depression or impulsivity, can stem from other factors, and some experts worry about making premature diagnoses.
    — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026
  • After lying dormant for over twenty years, the property has been completely renovated to make the space feel tasteful, modern, and comfortable while continuing to pay tribute to its deep archival roots.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of make
Verb
  • That puts it in a rare class of hurricanes — only the most powerful storms on Earth attain central pressures below 900 mb.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Populism, distilled from the witches’ brew of 1893, only attained its full strength closer to the end of the century.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of attain

Browse Nearby Words

obstructs
obtain
obtainability
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Cite this Entry

“Obtain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtain. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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