obtain

verb

ob·tain əb-ˈtān

äb-

obtained; obtaining; obtains

Synonyms of obtain next

transitive verb

: to gain or attain usually by planned action or effort

The information was difficult to obtain.

We obtained a copy of the original letter.

intransitive verb

: to be generally recognized or established : prevail

Those ideas no longer obtain for our generation.

a greater degree of free expression than usually obtains in film production—

Roger Manvell

archaic : succeed

obtainability

əb-ˌtā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē

äb-

noun

obtainable

əb-ˈtā-nə-bəl

äb-

adjective

obtainer noun

obtainment

əb-ˈtān-mənt

äb-

noun

Did you know?

Obtain, which was adopted into English in the 15th century, comes to us via Anglo-French from the Latin obtinēre, meaning "to hold on to, possess." Obtinēre was itself formed by the combination of ob-, meaning "in the way," and the verb tenēre, meaning "to hold." In its earliest uses, obtain often implied a conquest or a successful victory in battle, but it is now used for any attainment through planned action or effort. The verb tenēre has incontestably prevailed in the English language, providing us with such common words as abstain, contain, detain, sustain, and, perhaps less obviously, the adjectives tenable and tenacious.

Example Sentences

The information may be difficult to obtain. We obtained a copy of the original letter. These ideas no longer obtain for our generation.

Recent Examples on the Web Most of the 35 states with these laws allow for judicial bypass, which permits a minor to obtain approval from a court. —

Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2023 Spy ships seek to obtain intelligence about an adversary's sea and air traffic near a port, as well as radio and radar signals. —

Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2023 Spy ships seek to obtain intelligence about an adversary’s sea and air traffic near a port, as well as radio and radar signals. —

Andrew Jeong, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Jan. 2023 Spy ships seek to obtain intelligence about an adversary’s sea and air traffic near a port, as well as radio and radar signals. —

Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023 The investigation is still ongoing, but the culprit appeared to obtain the information through a single entry point serving customer data, and doesn’t appear to have breached the company’s systems or network. —

Catherine Larkin, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2023 Ultimately, investigators found probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant for Gwin, police said. —

Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 19 Jan. 2023 The investigation is still ongoing, but the culprit appeared to obtain the information through a single entry point serving customer data, and doesn’t appear to have breached the company’s systems or network. —

Catherine Larkin, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Jan. 2023 The investigation is still ongoing, but the culprit appeared to obtain the information through a single entry point serving customer data, and doesn’t appear to have breached the company’s systems or network. —

Dallas News, 19 Jan. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'obtain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English obteinen, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre to hold on to, possess, obtain, from ob- in the way + tenēre to hold — more at thin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of obtain was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century