Both can mean “to get” or “to acquire,” and in some situations can be used synonymously, but one or the other might be more appropriate depending on what is being acquired and how.

OBTAIN definition: to come into possession of; get, acquire, or procure, as through an effort or by a request. See examples of obtain used in a sentence.

OBTAINING definition: 1. present participle of obtain 2. to get something, especially by asking for it, buying it…. Learn more.

Definition of obtain verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

1. to come into possession of; get, acquire, or procure, as through effort or request. 2. Obs. to attain or reach. 3. to be prevalent, customary, or in vogue: the morals that obtained in Rome. 4. Archaic. to …

Find 266 different ways to say OBTAINING, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.

To obtain something means to get it or achieve it. He was trying to obtain a false passport.

acquire:[~ + object] to obtain a driver's license. to be common or customary, esp. so as to be in force or to exist in a particular place or time:[no object; usually: not be + ~ -ing] the morals that obtained in …

Mar 18, 2026 · obtain (third-person singular simple present obtains, present participle obtaining, simple past and past participle obtained) (transitive) To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to …

obtain meaning, definition, what is obtain: to get something that you want, especial...: Learn more.