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obtain

[ uhb-teyn ]
/ əbĖˆteÉŖn /
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See synonyms for: obtain / obtained / obtaining / obtainable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
to come into possession of; get, acquire, or procure, as through an effort or by a request: to obtain permission; to obtain a better income.
Obsolete. to attain or reach.
verb (used without object)
to be prevalent, customary, or in vogue; prevail: the morals that obtained in Rome.
Archaic. to succeed.
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Origin of obtain

1375ā€“1425; late Middle English obteinen, from Middle French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre ā€œto take hold of,ā€ equivalent to ob- ob- + -tinēre (combining form of tenēre ā€œto holdā€)

synonym study for obtain

1. See get.

OTHER WORDS FROM obtain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use obtain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for obtain

obtain
/ (əbĖˆteÉŖn) /

verb
(tr) to gain possession of; acquire; get
(intr) to be customary, valid, or accepteda new law obtains in this case
(tr) archaic to arrive at
(intr) archaic to win a victory; succeed

Derived forms of obtain

obtainable, adjectiveobtainability, nounobtainer, nounobtainment, noun

Word Origin for obtain

C15: via Old French from Latin obtinēre to take hold of, from ob- (intensive) + tenēre to hold
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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