verb · neutral
obtain
/əbˈteɪn/ob·TAIN
Band 7+task2task1speaking
to get or gain something, especially by effort or as a result
Examples
“We obtained permission from the ethics board before starting the study.”
“Accurate data can be obtained through repeated trials.”
“She obtained her degree in 2016.”
Band 8 sentence
“High-quality evidence can be obtained only through carefully controlled longitudinal studies.”
Collocations
- obtain permission
- obtain information/data
Word family
obtain verbobtainable adjectiveobtained adjective / verb
Common mistakes
obtain for→obtain (no preposition) / obtain from
obtainable for→obtainable from / obtainable by
Say it for a higher band
5get→6gain→7+obtain
Synonyms
get
acquire
Easily confused
acquire
“She acquired a good reputation through years of hard work.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Sublist 2
Learn it with its set