Obtain
v.capable, hopefulprofessional
What it means
To gain something through effort, request, or an established process.
Reach for it when talking about successfully securing a resource, result, or permission
The clinic helped every household obtain a reliable water filter.
Choose between these
6- everyday
get
the broad natural verb is sufficient
not when Get is vague about effort, permission, or process.
- warm
earn
effort or merit justifies the result
not when Earn is wrong when the resource is a right.
- professional
acquire
possession develops through purchase or learning
not when Acquire sounds transactional when receiving help.
- formal
procure
someone arranges a needed item
not when Procure is overly official for ordinary getting.
- formal
effort succeeds despite difficulty
not when Secure implies uncertainty that may not exist.
- literary
a level or goal is reached
not when Attain fits achievements better than physical objects.
Said against
3- lose
- forfeit
- surrender
It naturally appears in
3- obtain permission
The crew must obtain permission before entering the cave.
- obtain a copy
Residents can obtain a copy of the survey at the library.
- obtain funding
The cooperative hopes to obtain funding for a second cold store.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English verb sense: acquire or get opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.