verb

obtained

uhb-TAYND

Obtained (verb) means past tense and past participle of obtain: got or acquired something, usually through effort, request or a formal process. Example: “She obtained a copy of the report under freedom of information rules.”

verb

Past tense and past participle of obtain: got or acquired something, usually through effort, request or a formal process.

"She obtained a copy of the report under freedom of information rules."

"The samples were obtained from three separate sites."

formal Of a rule, custom or condition: was in force or prevailed at a particular time.

"The practice obtained throughout the medieval period."

How to Use Obtained

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGot something, usually by asking for it or working for it.

When to use it

Formal; very common in academic method sections and legal documents.

Memory tip

Obtain something from a source: 'obtained the figures from the census', not 'obtained by the census'.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

attained → received → acquired → procured

Common pairings

obtained permission data were obtained obtained a degree illegally obtained evidence

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ a copy of the report under freedom of information rules.

Etymology

From Latin obtinere, 'to hold, possess', from ob-, 'towards', and tenere, 'to hold', through Old French obtenir.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

acquired secured procured got gained

Related Words

got foreign bought achieved attached earned acquired gotten

Rhymes for obtained

lined mined gained joined ruined pained refined stained defined trained drained chained

See all rhymes for 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.

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got foreign bought achieved attached earned acquired gotten