obtain

verb

əb-ˈtān How to pronounce obtain (audio)
Definition of obtainnext
as in to earn
to receive as return for effort after years of proving herself, she obtained recognition as a serious journalist

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obtain In February, Witt told WCCO the jail would cooperate with ICE if agents obtained a judicial warrant for an individual's arrest. — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 In the absence of regular data, analysts and activists interested in immigration trends have relied on information obtained through lawsuits or limited and sporadic information released by federal agencies to track deportation data. — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Chaiken also obtained permission from artist Philip Castle’s estate to reproduce an unused airbrush design for the Full Metal Jacket poster. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 An Atlanta social media personality with more than 2 million followers across platforms has been federally indicted for allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $4 million from a federal program that helps feed needy Georgia families. — Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obtain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtain
  1. earn
  2. gain
  3. win
  4. reap
  5. garner
  6. get
  7. make
  8. attain
Verb
  • The New York Red Bulls took advantage of an early own goal, added an Emil Forsberg score in second-half stoppage time and capitalized on a limited appearance by Lionel Messi to earn a crucial 2-0 victory over Inter Miami on Saturday.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Prior to working in Hollywood, Atchity served as an assistant professor of English and comparative literature at Occidental College before earning tenure and becoming a full-time professor.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of earn
Verb
  • The Panthers wound up out gaining Argyle 552 to 480 in total yards with running back Gabriel Bess picking up 160 yards on 19 carries.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • By adding a company with a long record in underwater robotics, Elbit gains access to specialist expertise that complements its existing surface, sensor, communications and command-and-control capabilities.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of gain
Verb
  • But Ben-Gvir and his allies hope to win enough seats to force Netanyahu to accommodate their demands or risk losing power.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Election Day nears The stakes are high as the race Marshall was supposed to win handily is now neck-and-neck, according to recent polling.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of win
Verb
  • The railroads have yet to reap the price benefits of the volume growth, since intermodal rates are set in an annual bid season each fall and winter.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The platform continued to reap the benefits of record-high viewership for the FIFA World Cup, as the final games played out at the beginning of the quarter and aired on NBCUniversal's Telemundo and on Peacock.
    — Catriona Marangi, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of reap
Verb
  • That’s more than double the cash Tesla’s been garnering from operations in the last few quarters, meaning that will have a much bigger cash deficit in the final three months of 2026.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • With luxury bags and accessory live shows garnering more than 150 million views so far in 2026, Coach is expected to see the biggest benefit at the accessible price point.
    — Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of garner
Verb
  • Ironically, these uninsured Americans may be helping drive the cost of health care even higher, fueling a cycle in which health insurance gets more expensive, forcing more people to drop coverage.
    — Alana Semuels, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Why concert tickets keep getting more expensive Artists, promoters, venues, and ticketing platforms all take a cut of each ticket.
    — James LaForge, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of get
Verb
  • Assembly Republican Leader Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, did not explicitly say that the governor should hold off on commuting sentences, but urged him to consider the parents who had to bury their children before making the decision.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Its stainless steel body can last for years of making pour-over coffee every morning or evening cups of hot tea, and the kettle also comes in handy to boil water fast for everyday recipes.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of make
Verb
  • Devotion to the Amida Buddha is associated with a good death and rebirth in the Pure Land, a domain believed to be conducive to attaining buddhahood and enlightenment.
    — Mimi Hanaoka, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The researchers demonstrated the benefit of using different atoms by maintaining quantum entanglement for 10 seconds as against a few milliseconds attained with the same set of atoms.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of attain

Browse Nearby Words

obstructs
obtain
obtainability
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Cite this Entry

“Obtain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtain. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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