adjective
Common
gotten
GOT-n
Gotten (adjective) means Obtained or acquired. Example: “It was a hard-gotten victory after three overtime periods.”
adjective
1
Obtained or acquired.
"It was a hard-gotten victory after three overtime periods."
verb
1
Past participle of "get", used mainly in American English.
"She has gotten much better at chess this year."
"We had gotten used to the noise by the time we moved out."
"I haven't gotten any reply from the landlord about the broken heater."
How to use gotten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past participle "gotten" — as in "has gotten" — common in American English.
UK vs US
American English regularly uses "gotten" ("I've gotten better"), while British English almost always uses "got" instead ("I've got better").
Easily confused with
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It was a hard-_____ victory after three overtime periods.
Etymology
Formed from "got" plus the old past-participle ending "-en", the same pattern seen in "forgotten".
Related words
Rhymes for gotten
See all rhymes for gotten →Frequently asked questions
What does “gotten” mean?
The word “gotten” means obtained or acquired. In plain terms, the past participle "gotten" — as in "has gotten" — common in American English.
How do you pronounce “gotten”?
“Gotten” is pronounced GOT-n (/ˈɡɑ.tən/ in IPA).
How do you use “gotten” in a sentence?
Here is “gotten” used in a sentence: “It was a hard-gotten victory after three overtime periods.”
What part of speech is “gotten”?
Depending on how it is used, “gotten” can be an adjective and a verb.
Is “gotten” a common word?
“Gotten” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “gotten” have?
“Gotten” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: obtained or acquired.
What is the difference between gotten and got?
Both are past participles of 'get.' Gotten is standard in American English, as in 'prices have gotten higher.' British English generally uses got instead: 'prices have got higher.' Note too that 'have got' can mean 'possess' ('I've got a car'), whereas 'have gotten' leans towards obtaining or becoming.
Is gotten a real word?
Yes. Gotten is a standard past participle of the verb 'get' and is completely correct in American English. It can sound old-fashioned or wrong to some British speakers, who prefer 'got,' but it is not slang or an error — in fact it preserves an older English form.
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