# obtain

> English word · Verb · IPA /əbˈteɪn/ · frequency rank #3,641

## Definitions
1. To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
2. To secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached.
3. To prevail, be victorious; to succeed.
4. To hold; to keep, possess or occupy.
5. To exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force.

## Etymology
From Middle English obteinen, from Anglo-Norman obtenir, optiner et al., and Middle French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre (“to gain, achieve, succeed, possess”), from ob- + tenēre (“to hold”).

## Easily confused with
- **obtained** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/obtain-vs-obtained)
- **Oban** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oban-vs-obtain)

## Common misspellings (8)
`botain`, `obatin`, `obbtain`, `obtainn`, `obtani`, `obtian`, `obttain`, `otbain`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/obtain