Definition, synonyms and related words
simple past tense and past participle of obtain
"She obtained all the necessary permits before starting construction on her new garden shed."
In plain English: Obtained means getting something that you wanted or needed.
"He obtained the necessary documents by visiting the city hall yesterday."
Usage: Use obtained to describe something that was successfully acquired or secured through effort in the past. It is often interchangeable with got but sounds more formal when referring to documents, information, or specific items.
Derived from Old French obtenir, this past participle traces back to Latin obtinere. The root combines ob- (against) and tenere (to hold), originally meaning to hold against or keep possession of something.