gotten

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'gotten' is correct and usable in written English.
It is the past-participle form of the verb 'get'. Example sentence: He had gotten the job he applied for.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

"They've gotten away with this for a long time, so making them suffer a little for stealing is a good idea".

The Guardian - Tech

The creators of a sexually suggestive television ad for drain cleaner may have just gotten an unlikely publicity boost from a conservative action group.

The Guardian

We haven't even gotten to the bridge.

The Guardian

"People would come in [to the surgery] feeling guilty for having gotten a job because their neighbours and friends were also applying for jobs," said Chalmers.

The Guardian

She hadn't gotten out of the old personality – the dumb blonde from Niagara and Asphalt Jungle.

The Guardian

Too many African-American voters have gotten in the habit of supporting Democrats without hearing anyone in their community making a case to the contrary," the report said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

The bigger police forces cream off millions of pounds a year in this way (see chart).Powers to confiscate criminals' ill-gotten gains have grown steadily.

The Economist

In Pakistan, 5,000 aspiring students have yet to have their applications processed and 9,000 more are appealing against outright refusals.In this section You've never had it so bad Early riser A goat with medals Wobbling again Taken to the cleaners Ivory fortresses Ill-gotten gains Dave and whose army?

The Economist

Investigators say it has become more widely used as a vehicle for ill-gotten gains since the 1980s, when it proved a hit with Latin American drug cartels.

The Economist

How can I responsibly distribute this ill-gotten gain?

The Guardian - Opinion

He's replaced by Clint Dempsey, whose missed Capital One Cup penalty-kick against Norwich City last week cost me £70 in ill-gotten gambling winnings.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for an international audience, be mindful that "gotten" is more common in American English; consider using "got" for broader acceptance.

Common error

Avoid using "gotten" in contexts that otherwise use British English conventions, as this can create an inconsistent and jarring effect for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "gotten" is as a past participle of the verb "get". It is typically used in perfect tenses, such as "have gotten" or "had gotten", to indicate a completed action. As Ludwig shows, it's often used to describe acquiring something or reaching a certain state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gotten" is the past participle of the verb "get", widely used in American English to denote the completion of an action. While grammatically sound, its usage can be influenced by regional English variations, particularly in British English where "got" is favored. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's crucial to maintain consistency in your writing and consider your target audience's dialect. Although "gotten" is common, it can be replaced by more formal alternatives such as "obtained" or "acquired" for enhanced clarity in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obtained

Formal synonym replacing the more conversational "gotten".

acquired

Similar to "obtained", emphasizing the process of gaining something.

received

Focuses on the act of being given something, rather than actively getting it.

gained

Implies effort or progress in achieving something.

achieved

Highlights the successful completion of a goal.

earned

Suggests that something was deserved or worked for.

procured

A more formal and sometimes bureaucratic term for obtaining something.

secured

Emphasizes the effort involved in making something safe or certain.

landed

Informal way of saying to get something, usually a job or a deal.

come to possess

Emphasizes the state of owning or holding something after receiving it.

FAQs

How do I use "gotten" in a sentence?

"Gotten" is the past participle of "get", typically used with auxiliary verbs like "have" or "had" to form perfect tenses. Example: "He had "gotten" a new job."

What can I say instead of "gotten"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "obtained", "acquired", or "received".

Which is correct, "gotten" or "got"?

"Gotten" is the past participle form of "get" more common in American English, while "got" is preferred in British English. Both are grammatically correct, but their usage depends on the dialect.

What's the difference between "got" and "gotten"?

While both are past participles of "get", "gotten" implies the action of obtaining or receiving something, whereas "got" can also refer to a state of being. In British English, "got" is used for both meanings.