Obtains

əbˈteɪnz

verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

1

To come into possession of; to acquire or get something.

əbˈteɪnz

verbneutralBeginner
General

To acquire or get something.

The student obtains good grades by studying hard.

💡 Simply: Imagine you really want a new toy. 'Obtain' is like finally getting it! It's like winning the game, finding something you were looking for, or getting permission to go to a party. You work, ask, or search, and then you *obtain* it!

👶 For kids: To get something.

More Examples

2

She obtains a new recipe from her friend.

3

The government obtains funding through taxes.

4

He obtains a visa before going to a new country.

How It's Used

Business

"The company obtains its raw materials from several suppliers."

Legal

"The lawyer obtained the necessary documents for the case."

Science

"Researchers obtain data through experimentation."

From Middle French *obtenir*, from Latin *obtineō* ("I hold, maintain, obtain"), from *ob-* ("in front of, against") + *teneō* ("I hold").

The word 'obtain' has been used since the 14th century, initially meaning 'to come into possession of.' It's usage has remained fairly consistent.

Memory tip

Think of "obtaining" as the final step in getting what you need.

obtainsobteins

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written