What does obtain mean?
Definitions for obtain
əbˈteɪnob·tain
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word obtain.
Princeton's WordNet
obtainverb
come into possession of
"How did you obtain the visa?"
receive, get, find, obtain, incurverb
receive a specified treatment (abstract)
"These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation"; "His movie received a good review"; "I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions"
prevail, hold, obtainverb
be valid, applicable, or true
"This theory still holds"
Wiktionary
obtainverb
To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
obtainverb
To secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached.
obtainverb
To prevail, be victorious; to succeed.
obtainverb
To hold; to keep, possess or occupy.
obtainverb
To exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force.
Etymology: From obtenir, optiner et al., and obtenir, from obtinere, from ob- + tenere.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
To OBTAINverb
Etymology: obtenir, Fr. obtineo, Latin.
May be that I may obtain children by her. Gen. xvi. 2.
We have obtained an inheritance. Eph. i. 11.
Whatever once is denied them, they are certainly not to obtain by crying. John Locke, Education.
The juices of the leaves are obtained by expression, which is the nutritious juice rendered somewhat more oleaginous. John Arbuthnot, on Aliments.
In such our prayers cannot serve us as means to obtain the thing we desire. Richard Hooker, b. v. s. 48.
By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Heb. ix. 12.
If they could not be obtained of the proud and crafty tyrant, then to conclude peace with him upon any conditions. Richard Knolles, History of the Turks.
Some pray for riches, riches they obtain;
But watch’d by robbers for their wealth are slain. Dryden.The conclusion of the story I forbore, because I could not obtain from myself to shew Absalom unfortunate. Dryden.
To Obtainverb
The Theodosian Code, several hundred years after Justinian’s time, did obtain in the western parts of Europe. Thomas Baker.
Our impious use no longer shall obtain,
Brothers no more, by brothers, shall be slain. Dryden.The situation of the sun and earth, which the theorist supposes, is so far from being preferable to this which at present obtains, that this hath infinitely the advantage of it. John Woodward.
The general laws of fluidity, elasticity, and gravity, obtain in animal and inanimate tubes. George Cheyne, Phil. Prin.
There is due from the judge to the advocate, some commendation where causes are fair pleaded; especially towards the side which obtaineth not. Francis Bacon.
ChatGPT
obtain
Obtain generally refers to the act of acquiring, gaining or procuring something, usually through effort, work or request. It could encompass anything from information to physical objects.
Webster Dictionary
Obtainverb
to hold; to keep; to possess
Obtainverb
to get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way
Obtainverb
to become held; to gain or have a firm footing; to be recognized or established; to subsist; to become prevalent or general; to prevail; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in summer
Obtainverb
to prevail; to succeed
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Obtain
ob-tān′, v.t. to lay hold of: to hold: to procure by effort: to gain: to keep possession of.—v.i. to be established: to continue in use: to become customary or prevalent: to hold good: (rare) to succeed.—adj. Obtain′able, that may be obtained, procured, or acquired.—ns. Obtain′er; Obtain′ment; Obten′tion, procurement.—Obtain to (Bacon), to attain to. [Fr.,—L. obtinēre—ob, upon, tenēre, to hold.]
Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
obtain
To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of.
Suggested Resources
Obtain
Obtain vs. Attain -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Obtain and Attain.
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'obtain' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2198
Verbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'obtain' in Verbs Frequency: #175
Anagrams for obtain »
batino
oatbin
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of obtain in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of obtain in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7
Examples of obtain in a Sentence
All of the states that have been carrying out executions have some form of secrecy... the states initially said that this is necessary for them to obtain the drugs because drug manufacturers were being harassed, they claimed, by anti-death penalty advocates. Those allegations have all turned out to be false. But the states have continued to attempt to expand secrecy and the real reason is because the drug manufacturers themselves are opposed to the use of their medicines in executions.
The constitutional right of self-defense should not disappear simply because an individual crosses state lines, i’m pleased to join my Senate colleagues in this commonsense legislation to ensure that law-abiding Tennesseans who are permitted to carry a concealed firearm are able to exercise that right in other states, consistent with those states’ laws, without having to obtain a separate permit.
We welcome today's proposals, which can help authorities obtain digital evidence more effectively and with more transparency and legal clarity.
Thousands of people who, until now, did not have a determined nationality, will come out of the shadows, thanks to the reforms currently being implemented in several states in West Africa, these men, women and children will finally be able to obtain a legal identity.
It is just absolutely wild how one of the most notorious oligarchs to emerge from Russia was able to obtain a seat on the actual board of one of the most prestigious universities in the United States of America.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for obtain
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- حصلArabic
- získatCzech
- bestehen, erlangenGerman
- obtenerSpanish
- به دست آوردنPersian
- pitää hallussaan, olla, olla olemassa, hankkiaFinnish
- réussir, se procurer, s'établir, avoir succès, avoir, obtenirFrench
- प्राप्तHindi
- hozzájut, kap, megkapHungarian
- avere, ottenere, riuscire, stabilirsiItalian
- לְהַשִׂיגHebrew
- 持っている, 手に入れる, 成し遂げる, 獲得, 持つ, 取得Japanese
- 얻다, 갖다, 이루다, 굳히다Korean
- دهسکهوتن, پهیداکردنKurdish
- consequor, succedo, impetro, assequor, teneo, obtineoLatin
- dabūt, iegūt, būtLatvian
- verkrijgenDutch
- dostać, dostawać, nabyć, otrzymać, otrzymywać, uzyskać, nabywać, uzyskiwaćPolish
- obterPortuguese
- reuși, avea succes, avea, obține, a se stabiliRomanian
- доставать, добыть, получить, добывать, получать, достатьRussian
- erhållaSwedish
- பெறTamil
- సమకూర్చుకొనుTelugu
- ได้รับThai
- elde etmekTurkish
- حاصل کریںUrdu
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"obtain." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/obtain>.
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