Definitions for obtain
əbˈteɪnob·tain

Princeton's WordNet(2.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. obtain(verb)

   come into possession of

   "How did you obtain the visa?"

2. receive, get, find, obtain, incur(verb)

   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"

3. prevail, hold, obtain(verb)

   be valid, applicable, or true

   "This theory still holds"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. obtain(Verb)

   To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.

   Etymology: From obtenir, optiner et al., and obtenir, from obtinere, from ob- + tenere.

2. obtain(Verb)

   To secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached.

   Etymology: From obtenir, optiner et al., and obtenir, from obtinere, from ob- + tenere.

3. obtain(Verb)

   To prevail, be victorious; to succeed.

   Etymology: From obtenir, optiner et al., and obtenir, from obtinere, from ob- + tenere.

4. obtain(Verb)

   To hold; to keep, possess or occupy.

   Etymology: From obtenir, optiner et al., and obtenir, from obtinere, from ob- + tenere.

5. obtain(Verb)

   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.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Obtain(verb)

   to hold; to keep; to possess

2. Obtain(verb)

   to get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way

3. Obtain(verb)

   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

4. Obtain(verb)

   to prevail; to succeed

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(2.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. 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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. obtain

   To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'obtain' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2198

2. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'obtain' in Verbs Frequency: #175

How to pronounce obtain?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say obtain in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of obtain in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of obtain in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of obtain in a Sentence

1. Michael Cohen:

   These documents and others were provided to Deutsche Bank in one occasion when I was with them in our attempt to obtain money so that we could put a bid in on the Buffalo Bills.

2. Samsung Electronics:

   Today's decision flies in the face of a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in favor of Samsung on the scope of design patent damages, we will consider all options to obtain an outcome that does not hinder creativity and fair competition for all companies and consumers.

3. Remy Mars:

   I have one thing I can't obtain by money or practice... I naturally look like a nice guy.

4. John Iannarelli:

   If you’re using your personal account, there would need to be an investigation and a subpoena [to obtain those messages], which could be forthcoming, there is a serious problem with an FBI agent purposefully wishing to take bureau-related matters to an unsecure platform for the purposes of not being discovered by their employee.

5. Liz Murrill:

   Doctors do not have a constitutional right to perform abortions. They don't have a constitutional right not be regulated. If the law works the way it is supposed to work, doctors who are competent should be able to obtain privileges.

Images & Illustrations of obtain

Popularity rank by frequency of use