obtain
/əbˈteɪn/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: obtains · obtaining · obtained
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
Verb
Examples
obtain permission
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force.
Verb
Examples
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.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “obtain” mean?
To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
Is “obtain” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.