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# obtain

«obtain» in Mova's school dictionary: **To get something, especially by effort or by asking** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (obtain, obtains, obtained, obtaining)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (formal) To get something, especially by effort or by asking. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obtain/#m1)

2) (formal, rare) To exist or be in use (of rules). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obtain/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

Formal exam word for "get": "how many points did she obtain?". In science: results obtained from an experiment. Phrases: obtain permission, obtain results, obtain a total.

### examples

- She obtained 18 points out of 20. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obtain/#x1)
- You must obtain permission before you leave. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obtain/#x2)
- The results obtained in the test were surprising. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obtain/#x3)
- Where can I obtain a library card? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obtain/#x4)
- Add the numbers to obtain the total. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obtain/#x5)
- The scientist obtained a sample of sea water. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obtain/#x6)
- He obtained what he wanted, and flew away. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obtain/#x7)

### note

Formal; everyday words are "get" or "gain". In maths "obtain" just means get or reach; read what is obtained (points, total) to know the numbers.

### In the corpora

- [Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that obtaineth understanding.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PRO.68/)
- [For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PRO.238/)
- [A gracious woman obtaineth honour; and strong men obtain riches.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PRO.306/)
- [A good man shall obtain favour of the LORD; but a man of wicked devices will He condemn.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PRO.323/)
- [Whoso findeth a wife findeth a great good, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PRO.526/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «obtain» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obtain/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.