obtain

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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]