obtain

From Wiktionary
obtain is on the Academic Word List.

Pronunciation[change]

Verb[change]

Plain form
obtain

Third-person singular
obtains

Past tense
obtained

Past participle
obtained

Present participle
obtaining

Obtain is on the Academic Vocabulary List.
  1. (transitive) (formal) If you obtain something, you get it.
    The newspaper was able to obtain the information from police.
    After obtaining permission from the town, they built the new trail.
  2. (intransitive) (formal) If something obtains, it is true or it exists.
    His argument is therefore compatible only in cases where class difference does not obtain.

Synonyms[change]

Related words[change]