OBTAINS Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

obtains

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 obtains The city will collect 5% annual interest on OAC’s future payments, the first of which would be expected five years after closing or when the group obtains formal city approval for its redevelopment plans, whichever comes earlier. — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 13 July 2026 The state obtains the money by selling bonds to investors and agrees to repay it, with interest, per a specified schedule. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026 Instead of cumbersome stakes and poles, the tent obtains its shape with just air. — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026 What that means is that if the debt becomes delinquent and a creditor obtains a judgment, either spouse's wages may be subject to garnishment, depending on state law. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 11 June 2026 These agreements can ensure that the host community obtains certain specified benefits, such as local workforce guarantees or infrastructure development, as a result of the data center project. — Michael Helbing, The Conversation, 11 June 2026 Charges can elevate to a first-degree felony if parents don’t safely secure firearms, which the minor then obtains and uses to cause death or great bodily injury, which is punishable by up to three years, Bala said. — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtains

Verb

In addition, England earns a larger share of the tournament prize money — $2 million more — with the third-place team taking home $29 million and the fourth-place team getting $27 million.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Recommendation capital is the cumulative trust a company earns when customers, employees, partners and communities voluntarily advocate on its behalf.

— Janita Pannu, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of earns

Verb

Research and development accounts for an average of just 4% of European countries’ defense budgets, compared to 10% for the United States – which reaps significant economic multiplier effects from that military spending.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
With these words, Nellie sews a field's worth of dramatic tension that the series reaps for seasons to come.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

Definition of reaps

Verb

Successive Copa America wins in 2021 and 2023, either side of the 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, have brought Lionel Messi and Co global admiration.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 19 July 2026
If Spain wins, Yamal would become the third-youngest player, behind Pele and Italy’s Giuseppe Bergomi, to start and win a World Cup final (while teammate Cubarsi, some six months older, would become the fourth-youngest).

— Sean Gregory, Time, 18 July 2026

Definition of wins

Verb

The idea garners rare bipartisan interest, potentially providing AI companies legitimacy and addressing public anxiety about the technology's future impact.

— James Broughel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
As Wembanyama garners worldwide attention, arriving right at Tatum and Silver’s New York doorstep in a moment that could change the sport, the NBA’s desire to expand hastens.

— Jared Weiss, New York Times, 5 June 2026

Definition of garners

Verb

In the city of Mashhad in northeast Iran, there's a natural history museum associated with local Ferdowsi University that gets all manner of donations, including animals that died in the road and injured birds.

— Ari Daniel, NPR, 17 July 2026
January 20 – February 18 Fun gets easier when the money boundary is not pretending to be flexible.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

Definition of gets

Verb

Founded by Brian Robbins, Big Shot acquires 25 percent ownership stake in Alvin and the Chipmunks and will develop new projects for the franchise.

— Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Content Partners, founded in 2005, is an investment fund and asset management company that acquires the cash flows from intellectual property in film, television and music.

— Peter White, Deadline, 14 July 2026

Definition of acquires

Browse Nearby Words

obtainments

obtains

obtrude

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Obtains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtains. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of obtains

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on obtains

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dog days

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes