Obtained food

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Obtained food" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that food has been acquired or received. Example: "After a long day of hiking, we finally obtained food from the nearby village."

✓ Grammatically correct

General Writing

Academic

News

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Some 10,000 years ago, a massive shift occurred in how humans obtained food.

Cornell University

Determined to live outside the capitalist system, members of Jonah House often obtained food by dumpster diving and theft.

The New Yorker

Within weeks of arriving, she secured a spacious one-bedroom apartment on an eastern Brooklyn boulevard through the city's H.I.V./AIDS Services Administration, and obtained food stamps.

The New York Times

They obtained food principally by foraging wild seeds, roots, and nuts, though agriculture was apparently incipient at this time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

During an itinerant period in the western US with his mother, he said he lived in a van and slept on blankets on the ground and obtained food from churches and food banks.

The Guardian

G. natator uses sulfuric acid produced in the salivary glands to make holes in the oyster shells and also uses these secretions to attack prey only when more easily obtained food is not available32.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Additionally, to assess the animal's motivation for choosing a particular cup, we scored whether they consumed the obtained foods.

Plosone

Fewer than 5percentt obtain food through the World Food Program, she said.

The New York Times

Fox obtains food, etc. by magical, prayerful means.

University of California, Berkeley

Lizards spend considerable time obtaining food, usually insects.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The accompagnante was there to provide company, obtain food, etc.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider "procured food" or "acquired food" for a more sophisticated tone.

Common error

Avoid using "obtained food" in everyday situations where simpler terms like "got food" or "ate" would suffice. Overusing formal language can sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obtained food" functions as a verb phrase where "obtained" is the past participle of the verb "obtain" modifying the noun "food". It describes the action of acquiring or getting food. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "obtained food" is a grammatically correct and commonly used way to describe the act of acquiring food. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. It's particularly suitable for formal writing, news reporting, or academic discussions where emphasizing the process or effort involved in getting food is important. While alternatives like "acquired food" or "secured food" exist, "obtained food" strikes a balance between formality and clarity. However, in casual settings, simpler terms like "got food" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Acquired food

Emphasizes the act of gaining possession of food, similar to "obtained food" but may imply a more deliberate effort.

Procured food

Suggests a more formal or official process of acquiring food, often involving planning or effort.

Secured food

Highlights the effort and success in getting food, especially in situations where it may be scarce or difficult to obtain.

Received food

Focuses on the act of being given food, rather than actively acquiring it oneself.

Got food

A more informal and general way of saying "obtained food", suitable for casual contexts.

Ate

Focuses on the action of eating. Therefore the focus is on consumption not on the way food was obtained.

Foraged for food

Specifies that the food was gathered from the wild, often involving searching and collecting.

Harvested food

Indicates that the food was gathered from a cultivated source, such as a farm or garden.

Found food

Implies discovering food, often by chance or without significant effort.

Collected food

Suggests gathering food from various sources or locations.

FAQs

How can I use "obtained food" in a sentence?

"Obtained food" is used to describe the act of getting food. For example, "During the famine, people struggled to "obtain food"".

What are some alternatives to "obtained food"?

Alternatives include "acquired food", "procured food", "secured food", or "received food", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "obtained food" instead of "got food"?

"Obtained food" is more formal than "got food". Use "obtained food" in formal writing or when you want to emphasize the effort or process involved in getting food. If you are writing for an academic audience use "obtained food".

What does "obtained food" imply about the situation?

Using "obtained food" often implies that there was some effort, difficulty, or process involved in acquiring the food, unlike simply stating that someone "ate" or "had" food.