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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Recent Examples of obtains
Federal regulations require banks to automatically protect two months' worth of Social Security deposits from garnishment if a creditor obtains a levy on your account.
—
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 May 2026
If the wrong party obtains it, trust collapses.
—Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Insight obtains its services through a national government purchasing cooperative, which uses Flock.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
The number of championship rings a player obtains is dependent on teammates and coaching systems.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
An employer subject to a stop order must pay its employees for up to 10 days for time lost until the employer obtains insurance.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
Whatever efficiency may be gained from using the tool could easily be undone in the event a threat actor obtains the keys to a network kingdom.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
Trump has said his administration's goal is to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
According to Rawls, fair equality of opportunity obtains in a society when all persons with the same native talent (genetic inheritance) and the same degree of ambition have the same prospects for success in all competitions for positions that confer special economic and social advantages.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 May 2026
If the wrong party obtains it, trust collapses.
—Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Insight obtains its services through a national government purchasing cooperative, which uses Flock.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
The number of championship rings a player obtains is dependent on teammates and coaching systems.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
An employer subject to a stop order must pay its employees for up to 10 days for time lost until the employer obtains insurance.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
Whatever efficiency may be gained from using the tool could easily be undone in the event a threat actor obtains the keys to a network kingdom.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
Trump has said his administration's goal is to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
According to Rawls, fair equality of opportunity obtains in a society when all persons with the same native talent (genetic inheritance) and the same degree of ambition have the same prospects for success in all competitions for positions that confer special economic and social advantages.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtains
Verb
-
With generous grounds and a residence built for gathering, this Southern Highlands estate invites the full cast of grandparents, cousins, friends, and whoever else earns a place at the weekend table.—
Natalie Hoberman,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Their new joke earns a bigger laugh than Al’s.—
Caroline Framke,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
However, an artist’s innate defiance reaps the best art.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The mower does the work, and your lawn reaps the benefits.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No Stanley Cup since 1967, and the Maple Leafs went nearly 20 years between series wins between 2004 and 2023.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Move quickly — but don’t skip due diligence Speed wins deals in Charlotte, but speed without care creates problems.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Verb
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What few efforts do exist to address alcohol’s harms have been overshadowed by the opioid crisis, a parallel drug epidemic that attracts more funding, spurs more policy change, and garners more media attention despite being vastly less deadly.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 May 2026
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Unless one candidate garners more than 50% of votes in the June 2 primary to outright win the seat, the top two vote-getters will move on to the November general election ballot.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Long influential in both Hollywood and Democratic political fundraising circles, the Sabans’ support highlights the unusually broad coalition Pratt has attracted as his outsider campaign gains traction among wealthy donors frustrated with the city’s leadership and response to ongoing crises.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
Over time, Hansae gets a better sense of a client’s needs, while the customer gains an understanding of the manufacturer’s strengths, creating further efficiencies.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The neighborhood/area Brickell gets a bad rep among visitors as Miami Beach’s boring, business-minded sibling, but a quick walk from the hotel will reveal the up-and-coming neighborhood to be an energizing community lined with vibrant (and clean) shops, restaurants, and bars.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
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Favreau, working from a script co-authored with Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni and Book of Boba Fett writer Noah Kloor, gets the action going in the first few minutes, as if to reassure fans that the leap to the big screen means something.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Verb
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That makes this early matchup, coming off the bye, against the Chargers at Arrowhead so vital.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Winston makes a cameo to execute another electric Ford Field trick play, and the Giants lose a close one with their offense starting to find a new gear.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The money from the sale went into the city’s capital lands reserve fund, where all money is distributed if the city acquires or sells property.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
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Horvath loves that the semi-evergreen foliage also acquires red tints over the winter.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Midwest Living,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obtains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtains. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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