Definitions

obtain

[uhb-teyn] / əbˈteɪn /

VERB

get, acquire

Synonyms

STRONGEST

access achieve attain collect earn gain gather glean have pick up procure purchase reach realize reap receive recover retrieve secure seize take win

STRONG

accomplish annex capture compass cop corral effect fetch grab hoard inherit invade nab occupy pocket salvage save score snag wangle

WEAK

beg borrow or steal chalk up come by drum up get at get hold of get one's hands on gobble up lay up make use of scrape together scrape up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disperse distribute divide fail forfeit free give give up let go lose miss misunderstand offer plant release scatter spend throw away

STRONG

endanger harm hurt squander surrender waste yield

WEAK

forsake sacrifice

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As Bessent noted, “One in five … will become homeless after aging out of the system, while only half will obtain gainful employment by the time they turn 24.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

Executives said the company was unable to obtain government permits for the project.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Joel feared he would be detained and deported even though he had a pending immigration case as he sought to obtain a green card.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

Thomas Weir Pauken II, 50, "admitted to being part of a conspiracy to obtain sensitive information from the US government" for China, US Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg said.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Eventually an experiment can be reliably mass-produced by manufacturing special equipment designed to obtain precisely that result—the equipment and the results are interdependent.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Vocabulary lists containing obtain

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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Essential English Vocabulary, List 1

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100 SAT words Beginning with "O"

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