obtain

"Obtain" is a straightforward but very useful English verb. It essentially means to get or acquire something, but it carries a slightly more formal tone than simply saying "get". It has a couple of closely related senses worth knowing.

1verbto get or acquire something

When you work toward getting something — like a document, a result, or an object — and you succeed in getting it, you 'obtain' it. Think of it as a more formal way of saying 'get'. You often use it when some effort or process was involved.

everyday language, formal writing, official contexts · Modern, widely used — especially in formal or written English

She had to visit three different offices to obtain the correct permit.

You can obtain a copy of the report from the school's front desk.

He studied hard to obtain a high score on the exam.

2verbto be in effect or exist (formal/academic)

In formal or academic writing, 'obtain' can mean that a rule, condition, or situation currently exists or is in force. This sense is less common in everyday speech, but you may encounter it in books or official texts. For example, if certain conditions 'obtain', it means those conditions are present or apply.

academic writing, law, formal texts · Formal, more common in older or academic texts

These rules no longer obtain in modern legal practice.

The same principles obtained in earlier centuries as well.

Different standards obtain in different countries.