Synonyms for obtain
əbˈteɪnob·tain

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.5 / 2 votes

1. obtain

   A person may obtain a situation by the intercession of friends, he procures a dinner by paying for it. Attain is a lofty word, pointing to some high or desirable result; a man attains the mountain summit, he attains honor or learning as the result of strenuous and earnest labor. Even that usage of attain which has been thought to refer to mere progress of time carries the thought of a result desired; as, to attain to old age; the man desires to live to a good old age; we should not speak of his attaining his dotage. One may attain an object that will prove not worth his labor, but what he achieves is in itself great and splendid; as, the Greeks at Marathon achieved a glorious victory. Compare DO; GET; REACH.

   Synonyms:
   accomplish, achieve, acquire, arrive at, attain, compass, earn, gain, get, grasp, master, procure, reach, secure, win

   Antonyms:
   abandon, fail, forfeit, give up, let go, lose, miss

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. obtainverb

   come into possession of

   "How did you obtain the visa?"

   Synonyms:
   incur, find, receive, prevail, get, hold

2. 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"

   Synonyms:
   pick up, make, mystify, experience, develop, draw, have, find oneself, become, sustain, receive, retrieve, scram, prevail, amaze, stimulate, sire, drive, engender, hold, go, rule, fix, stick, pay back, regain, happen, suffer, feel, beat, set about, get down, get under one's skin, incur, contract, bring forth, grow, dumbfound, stupefy, start, welcome, arrest, meet, witness, bring, bewilder, see, mother, chance, take, buzz off, catch, let, come up, beget, puzzle, flummox, invite, ascertain, get, generate, capture, find, baffle, produce, get hold, start out, pose, vex, aim, induce, find out, perplex, recover, bump, notice, gravel, begin, fetch, father, determine, commence, discover, encounter, arrive, set out, convey, acquire, come, line up, pay off, detect, bugger off, cause, take in, observe, nonplus

3. prevail, hold, obtainverb

   be valid, applicable, or true

   "This theory still holds"

   Synonyms:
   accommodate, book, retain, get, moderate, view as, support, take hold, hold back, harbour, defend, triumph, bind, run, deem, reign, hold up, endure, dominate, predominate, take, have, concord, rule, check, make, take for, go for, receive, throw, defy, control, harbor, keep, obligate, carry, give, adjudge, entertain, nurse, oblige, curb, hold, die hard, incur, confine, find, have got, arrest, restrain, apply, withstand, persist, agree, hold in, halt, contain, concur, maintain, guard, keep back, sustain, prevail, reserve, admit, declare, bear

Matched Categories

1. • Change
   • Exist
   • Get

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. gettethverb

   to get something from a person, place, or thing means to take possession of something.

   obtain and or receive

   Submitted by anonymous on August 10, 2022  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. obtainverb

   Synonyms:
   procure, get, acquire, achieve, gain, win, earn, secure, get possession of

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. obtainverb

   Synonyms:
   gain, get, procure, acquire, win, attain, secure

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "obtain":

   obtaining, get, achieve, gain, receive, acquire, secure, seek, getting, obtained, collect, derive, elicit, gather, procure, gaining, earn, enlist, solicit, attain, learn, find, securing, access, produce, achieving, reach, win, provide, have

Suggested Resources

1. Obtain

   Obtain vs. Attain -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Obtain and Attain.

How to pronounce obtain?

How to say obtain in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use obtain in a sentence?

1. Stacie Dusetzina:

   While closing the donut hole is beneficial for many individuals who obtain prescription drugs through Medicare Part D, the benefit does n’t work for people using high cost drugs, like oral anti-cancer therapies.

2. Timothy Clune:

   It is inexplicable that during this pandemic, the Governor would choose not to have ASL interpreters at his daily live televised briefings, as a result, New Yorkers are unable to obtain vital life and death information at the time they need it most.

3. Ted Cruz:

   The USA FREEDOM Act ends the NSA's unfettered data collection program once and for all, while at the same time preserving the government's ability to obtain information to track down terrorists when it has sufficient justification and support for doing so.

4. Italian Proverb:

   By asking for the impossible, obtain the best possible.

5. Denzel McCampbell:

   During the pandemic, Michigan Tlaib has helped residents obtain PPE and access needed unemployment benefits, and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for local service organizations.