obtain meaning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obtain meaning" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when discussing how someone or something can find or capture an understanding of something, usually from a source of information. For example, you could say, "Through his research, he was able to obtain meaning from ancient text."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The challenge is to obtain meaning from the data that represents something true, rather than spurious.

Perspectives on Data Science for Software Engineering

Except for a few events, Chatham House rules obtain: meaning that the official events are off the record.

The New Yorker

"In my area of research [on] rare cancers the level of evidence called for here is very hard to obtain, meaning that these patients would find it extremely difficult to gain access to new treatments," she said, adding that large trials looking directly at survival could be expensive and lengthy.

The Guardian - Business

To obtain meaning in one's life, one ought to pursue the former actions and avoid the latter ones.

SEP

Notice that the way helper users perturb data prevents the service provider to obtain meaning information about each user group.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

On the other hand, the more God is utterly unlike us, the less clear it is how we could obtain meaning by relating to Him.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The use of high strength concrete (HSC) in columns has become more frequent since a substantial reduction of the cross-section is obtained, meaning that slenderness increases for the same axial load and length, producing higher second order effects.

Engineering Structures

A low average signed relative stress level of 0.28 was obtained, meaning that the 2D representation of the kinases involves a low loss of information.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Still other purpose theorists maintain that our lives would have meaning only insofar as they were intentionally fashioned by a creator, thereby obtaining meaning of the sort that an art-object has (Gordon 1983).

SEP

In setting up a formal system to capture, albeit necessarily only in part, logic as it figures in Brouwer's foundations, naturally some priorly obtained meaning explanation is needed to serve as the criterion for intuitionistic validity.

SEP

For both equations, an R2 of 0.996 is obtained, meaning that we can predict the number of required drones correctly in 99.6% of the cases in the considered environment.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "obtain meaning", consider whether a more specific verb like "derive", "extract", or "ascertain" might be more precise in your context. This can enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "obtain meaning" repeatedly in formal or academic writing. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "discern meaning" or "derive significance" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obtain meaning" functions as a verbal phrase used to describe the action of acquiring or extracting understanding from something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and examples illustrate its application in academic, news, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "obtain meaning" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the process of acquiring understanding or significance. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "obtain meaning" is correct and can be used in written English. It is prevalent in scientific, news, and formal contexts, indicating its suitability for precise and analytical communication. While alternatives like "derive meaning" or "extract meaning" can offer nuanced variations, "obtain meaning" remains a versatile and widely accepted choice for expressing the active pursuit of comprehension. Its correct usage and clear communicative purpose make it a valuable addition to one's linguistic toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

derive meaning

Focuses on the extraction or origination of meaning from something.

extract meaning

Emphasizes a more active process of drawing out meaning.

glean meaning

Suggests gathering meaning bit by bit, often from scattered sources.

ascertain meaning

Highlights the effort to determine and establish the meaning with certainty.

grasp meaning

Emphasizes comprehension or understanding of the meaning.

interpret significance

Shifts the focus to the importance or consequence of something rather than direct meaning.

decipher meaning

Implies decoding or unraveling a meaning that is not immediately clear.

uncover meaning

Suggests revealing a meaning that was hidden or not easily apparent.

find significance

Highlights the act of discovering importance or value.

capture the essence

Focuses on identifying and representing the core or most important aspect of the meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "obtain meaning" in a sentence?

You can use "obtain meaning" to describe the process of understanding something from a source, such as "Researchers use various methods to "extract meaning" from complex data sets."

What are some alternatives to "obtain meaning"?

Alternatives include phrases like "derive meaning", ""extract meaning"", or "interpret significance", which can add nuance to your writing.

Is it correct to say "gain meaning" instead of "obtain meaning"?

While "gain meaning" is understandable, "obtain meaning" is generally more precise in formal contexts, suggesting a deliberate effort to acquire understanding.

What's the difference between "obtain meaning" and "find meaning"?

"Find meaning" suggests a discovery, while "obtain meaning" implies a more active process of acquiring or extracting understanding through effort or analysis.