Dictionary

obtain en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /əbˈteɪn/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English obteinen, from Anglo-Norman obtenir, optiner et al., and Middle French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre (“to gain, achieve, succeed, possess”), from ob- + tenēre (“to hold”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
   • […] Julia was quite as eager for novelty and pleasure as Maria, though she might not have struggled through so much to obtain them, and could better bear a subordinate situation. 1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter III, in Mansfield Park: […], volume II, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 64:
   • But the real way to build a successful online business is to be better than your rivals at undermining people's control of their own attention. Partly, this is a result of how online advertising has traditionally worked: advertisers pay for clicks, and a click is a click, however it's obtained. 2013 June 21, Oliver Burkeman, “The tao of tech”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 48:
   • obtain information
   • obtain permission
   • And a certayne ruler axed him: sayinge: Goode Master: what ought I to do, to obtaine eternall lyfe? 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Luke:
   • We obtained accurate data from the survey.
   • Applicants must obtain a permit before construction.
   • difficult to obtain
2. (intransitive, obsolete) To secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached.
   • he was condemned to die for the felony, and being so well known for an old offender, had certainly died, but the merchant, upon his earnest application, had obtained that he should be transported, on condition that he restored all the rest of his bills, which he had done accordingly. 1722, Daniel Defoe, Colonel Jack:
3. (intransitive, obsolete) To prevail, be victorious; to succeed.
   • This, though it failed at present, yet afterward obtained, and was a mighty step to the ruin of the commonwealth. 1701, Jonathan Swift, Contests and Dissentions in Athens and Rome:
   • “O daughter deare!” (said she) “despeire no whit; / For never sore but might a salve obtain [...].” 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
4. (obsolete, transitive) To hold; to keep, possess or occupy.
   • His mother then is mortal, but his Sire / He who obtains the monarchy of Heav'n, / And what will he not do to advance his Son? 1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 6, lines 76–79:
5. (especially, intransitive) To exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force.
   • In connection with the various courses of practical instruction, the companies maintain signalling schools fitted with standard railway equipment in which the staff can be given instructions under conditions exactly similar to those which obtain in signal boxes. 1942 July-August, T. F. Cameron, “How the Staff of a Railway is Recruited”, in Railway Magazine, page 207:
   • But the hostage situation no longer obtains, and so Uncle Enzo feels it important to stop Rife now, […] 1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, New York: Bantam Books, →ISBN, page 460:
   • Even though the Pervaise confession had never come to light, no reasonable doubt could obtain; for the act in question […] was on a par with countless other acts committed by the oligarchs, and, before them, by the capitalists. 1908 February 19, Jack London, chapter 17, in The Iron Heel, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

unobtainability · obtainance · obtainable · preobtain · unobtained · obtainment · obtainer · reobtain · obtainability

Synonyms

acquire (to gain possession of) · exact (to gain possession of) · attain (to gain possession of) · gain (to gain possession of) · procure (to gain possession of) · get (to gain possession of)

Translations (175)

de erlangen (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · bg доби́вам (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · el αποκτώ (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · be набыва́ць (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · pt obter (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · my ရ (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · fr avoir succès (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · de erhalten (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · fr s'établir (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · ca aconseguir (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ro a se stabili (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · hu szerez (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · txb kälp- (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · fi pitää hallussaan (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · mk добие (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ko 갖다 (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · hu bír (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · nb erholde (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · fa گرفتن (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · la teneo (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · sk dostávať (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · sga ad·cota (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · bg притежавам (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · da erholde (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · sk získavať (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · bg спечелвам (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu kieszközöl ((obsolete in English) to secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached) · grc κτάομαι (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · et hankima (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · lv būt (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · ckb دەسکەوتن (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · ro reuși (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · cmn 獲得 /获得 (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ja 獲得する (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ru доста́ть (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · sl dobiti (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · uk отри́мати (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · sk dostať (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · pl nabywać (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hi पाना (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu elér ((obsolete in English) to secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached) · pt possuir (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · vi đạt được (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · tg гирифтан (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ur حاصل کرنا (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · be атры́мліваць (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · be набы́ць (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · pl uzyskiwać (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · fr se procurer (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · pl dostawać (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ja 成し遂げる (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · grc προστυγχάνω (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · th ฟาด (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · it stabilirsi (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · az almaq (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · vi thu được (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · fi hankkia (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · th รับ (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu hozzájut (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · la succedo (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · es obtener (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · hi प्राप्त करना (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu jut (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ja 手に入れる (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · pl uzyskać (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ru добыва́ть (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ja 持つ (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · th ลุ (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ur پانا (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · my ရယူ (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ko 이루다 (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · la potior (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · nl verkrijgen (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · tg ба даст овардан (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ln zwa (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · nb innhente (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · uk отри́мувати (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · tr elde etmek (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ru добы́ть (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · eo akiri (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · la nanciscor (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu győzedelmeskedik (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · la assequor (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu szert tesz (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu uralkodik (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · lt įgauti (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · vi giành được (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · pl nabyć (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · km យក (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · gl obter (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · la consequor (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · kix thǖlòuh (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ro avea succes (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · ja 取得する (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · az əldə etmək (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · uz olmoq (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ro obține (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · it riuscire (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · bni kula (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ja 持っている (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · chr ᎠᏱᎭ (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · pl otrzymywać (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu kap (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · uk здобува́ти (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ckb دەسکەوتن (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · it ottenere (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · uk здобу́ти (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hy ստանալ (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu megkap (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · tr almak (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · sk získať (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · be атрыма́ць (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · sv erhålla (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · uz topmoq (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · pl dostać (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · pt ter (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · ko 굳히다 (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · it avere (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · fr avoir (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · ga bain (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · he הִשִּׂיג (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu érvényes (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · lv iegūt (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu érvényben van (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · mr मिळवणे (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · lv dabūt (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · vi kiếm được (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ru достава́ть (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · fi olla olemassa (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · ko 획득하다 (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu birtokol (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · lt gauti (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · la impetro (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ro avea (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · hu megszerez (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ga faigh (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · cs získat (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · km បាន (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · fi olla (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · ca obtenir (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu fennáll (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · mr प्राप्त करणे (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ln kula (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ko 얻다 (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ckb پەیداکردن (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · frr füünj (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · th แอ้ม (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · da opnå (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · bg доби́я (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · bg получавам (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · cs získávat (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ett 𐌂𐌀𐌅𐌄 (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · frr fu (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · got 𐌲𐌰𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍉𐌽 (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu elnyer (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ru получа́ть (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · mk добива (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · es obtener (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · pl otrzymać (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · de bestehen (to exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force) · sl pridobiti (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · fa به دست آوردن (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · fr obtenir (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ks لَبُن (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ks پرٛاوُن (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · txb yäm- (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · ar حَصَلَ (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · hu birtokában van/tart (''(obsolete in English)'' to hold; to keep, possess or occupy) · hu diadalmaskodik (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · fr réussir (''(obsolete in English)'' to prevail, be victorious; to succeed) · te సమకూర్చుకొను (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · la obtineo (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · ru получи́ть (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · sa लभते (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way) · io obtenar (to get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way)