obtained

verb

past tense of obtain
as in earned
to receive as return for effort after years of proving herself, she obtained recognition as a serious journalist

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obtained When reached for comment on LeVota’s letter, which The Star obtained this week, Garza’s attorney Brianne Thomas called it an act of retaliation and provided a copy of Garza’s complaint to The Star. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 Through an open records request, the Star-Telegram obtained copies of text messages and emails concerning discussions between the two cities about the data center development. — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026 In photos obtained by TMZ, the four of them went for smoothies in Los Angeles, with Sweeney keeping it casual in a white T-shirt and jeans. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 Sep. 2026 Entertainment Weekly’s sister site PEOPLE obtained documents from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Wednesday that indicate Curry died of coronary artery disease. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 The detective obtained surveillance video from the building that appeared to show Lopez, who was living in a third-floor unit, running up and down the stairs that night to sell drugs to customers. — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The Democrat-Gazette obtained non-public and confidential documents that were the results of a public records request. — Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026 Barry Hankerson accused Jomo Hankerson of mishandling travel arrangements for a Bahamas trip more than 25 years ago that ended in a plane crash that killed the 22-year-old singer and eight others, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Diagnosis involves testing cerebrospinal fluid obtained through a spinal tap; specialized laboratory testing may be needed. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtained
  1. earned
  2. gained
  3. won
  4. reaped
  5. garnered
  6. made
  7. got
  8. attained
Verb
  • Singletary took a pay cut to the minimum salary to stay this offseason, and then earned his spot on the roster.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Bartko, who earned degrees in civil engineering and law in Belarus, fled her home country on a student visa to avoid political persecution over her vocal opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of earned
Verb
  • When glamour replaced natural as the look of choice, hair—and its power to call attention, decorate, and define—gained new potency.
    — Vanessa Friedman, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In Waters, the project has gained a prominent activist and supporter of Palestinian liberation.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of gained
Verb
  • Antioch’s defensive line — senior Willie Hamilton and Harrison Victor and junior Camryn Mowery — won the trenches the rest of the way.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The project won the top prize at Guangxi’s provincial science and technology awards on August 24.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of won
Verb
  • The company reaped about $900 million with its initial public offering.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But the programs that have stuck to the Southland have reaped the benefits.
    — Gregory Ellwood, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of reaped
Verb
  • The collective added that its initial open letter – early signatories of which included Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, Nobel Prize-winning writer Annie Ernaux and directors Matteo Garrone and Isabel Coixet – had since garnered 1,000 signatures.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Academy graduate Ollie Scarles garnered some interest towards the end of the window.
    — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of garnered
Verb
  • Only 15 pieces will be made worldwide, with no restock planned.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The findings of the report demonstrate the shifts made by the brands that are capturing value from circularity rather than just complying.
    — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of made
Verb
  • When the islanders first got their phones back while in Fiji, Melanie had a video call with her sister in an unseen clip.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The San Francisco 49ers got creative in managing some tough cuts Sunday afternoon to get down to a 53-man roster, letting go of their punter and long snapper.
    — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of got
Verb
  • After the Philippines attained independence, in 1946, with the country’s economy constricted from more than three centuries of colonization, a diaspora spread around the world.
    — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Tennessee singer-songwriter, actor, and philanthropist hailed from a vanishing class, a 20th-century monocultural phenomenon who attained a household-name status that never lost its luster.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of attained

Browse Nearby Words

obtainable
obtained
obtaining
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Cite this Entry

“Obtained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtained. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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