obtained
5 synonyms for obtained, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — Past tense and past participle of obtain: got or acquired something, usually through effort, request or a formal process.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
procured
How to use obtained
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
obtained permission
data were obtained
obtained a degree
illegally obtained evidence
Formal; very common in academic method sections and legal documents.
Etymology
From Latin obtinere, 'to hold, possess', from ob-, 'towards', and tenere, 'to hold', through Old French obtenir.
Full origin of obtained →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between obtained and received?
Obtained implies you did something to get it: you asked, applied, bought or searched. Received is passive and simply means it came to you, whether you sought it or not.
Is obtained too formal for everyday writing?
In speech, 'got' is more natural. Obtained belongs to formal, academic and legal writing, where it signals a deliberate and often documented process of acquisition.
How do you spell the past tense of obtain?
Obtained, with a single 'n' before the -ed. Obtain follows the regular pattern and does not double the final consonant.
