Obtain is a verba word that describes an action, state, or occurrence with a few related meaningsdifferent ideas or senses a word can express. The most common everyday sense is “to get” or “come into possession of something,” but it can also mean that a rule, condition, or statement is true or appliesis relevant or valid in a particular situation.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /əb-TAYN/
Easy pronunciation: ub-TAYN (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the second syllable: tain.
Use this sense for the verb meaning to get or acquire something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Obtain Meaning
to get something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: come into possession of something; get or acquire it
Example: How did you obtain the visa?
Synonyms for this meaning:
- get — Common everyday substitute for this sense.
- receive — Works when something is given to you or sent to you.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Obtain
Meaning 2
to be true or apply
Part of speech: verb
Definition: be valid, applicable, or true
Example: The same rule does not obtain in every situation.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hold — Fits the sense of being true or holding good.
- prevail — Works in formal contexts when a condition or rule is in force.
Meaning 3
to get a certain treatment or result
Part of speech: verb
Definition: receive a specified treatment (abstract)
Example: The report obtained careful review before publication.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- find — Can work in some abstract contexts, but is less direct.
- incur — Used when something is suffered or brought upon oneself; only fits this sense in limited contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Obtain Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- get
- receive
to be true or apply
- hold
- prevail
to receive a specified treatment or result
- find
- incur
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse obtain with attain. Obtain means to get or acquire something; attain usually means to reach a goal or level.
- Do not use obtain in place of ordinary get in very casual speech unless a more formal tone is wanted.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does obtain mean?
Obtain usually means to get or acquire something. It can also mean that a rule or statement is true or applies.
What are synonyms for obtain?
For the main meaning, good synonyms include get and receive. In the sense of being valid or true, hold and prevail can work.
Is obtain formal?
Yes, obtain is often more formal than get, especially in everyday conversation.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
