obtained

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "obtained" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate something was acquired or achieved. For example: "She obtained a first-class degree."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I believe that we have now obtained the balance between what in an ideal world we would like to do and what we can afford to do".

The Guardian

Documents obtained under Right to Information (RTI) laws reveal that Carmody blindsided his colleagues with a public statement that he would decide who sat in the court of disputed returns (CDR) during a cliffhanger election result in February.

The Guardian

He had also obtained a PhD in Islamic studies from the Islamic University of Baghdad, and would draw on both to legitimise his unprecedented claim to anoint himself caliph of the Islamic world in July 2014, which realised a sense of destiny evident in the prison yard a decade earlier.

The Guardian

In getting to grips with the Juncker saga, Vestager has already obtained the Luxleaks material.

The Guardian

These "subject access requests" can be refused on the ground that information was obtained for journalistic reasons.

The Guardian

Ensure that any footage stored is kept for no longer than necessary for the purposes for which it is obtained.

The Guardian - Opinion

The FCO certainly knew that this "genocide equivocation" was dodgy: one internal memo obtained under the Freedom of Information Act admits that "HMG is open to criticism in terms of the ethical dimension.

The Guardian - Books

But from that point, to listen in to the conversation a court's permission would have to be sought, he insisted, adding that the process applied only "very narrowly to leads that we have obtained on issues related to terrorism or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction".

The Guardian

Duncan Smith was asked by Andrew Marr to address a leaked document obtained by the BBC on Friday that appeared to suggest his Department for Work and Pensions was considering changes to industrial injuries compensation, child benefit, the carer's allowance and disability benefits.

The Guardian

In the United States, 1 in 3 women will have an abortion before the age of 45, and 1,058,500 obtained one in 2011, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

The Guardian - Opinion

"By contrast, five of the eight bodies in our study yielded more than one type of tuberculosis – remarkably, from one individual, we obtained evidence of three distinct strains".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "obtained" when you want to clearly state that something was acquired or achieved, without necessarily implying how it was acquired. Other words like 'gained' or 'received' can add nuance.

Common error

While "obtained" is versatile, avoid overusing it in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler synonyms like "got" or "received" to maintain a natural flow.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "obtained" is as the past participle of the verb "obtain". It's commonly used in passive voice constructions or as an adjective describing something that has been acquired, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "obtained" functions as the past participle of "obtain", denoting the successful acquisition of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable in various writing styles. While versatile, "obtained" is particularly well-suited for formal contexts like news reports, business documents, and scientific papers. Its synonyms include "acquired", "gained", and "received", providing options to fine-tune your writing. The high frequency of "obtained" in reputable sources like The Guardian and The New York Times underscores its reliability and appropriateness in professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquired

Indicates gaining possession of something, often implying ownership.

received

Focuses on the act of getting something, often as a gift or transmission.

gained

Suggests effort or progress in acquiring something, often knowledge or experience.

procured

Implies careful or deliberate effort to obtain something, sometimes suggesting difficulty.

attained

Suggests achieving a goal or reaching a certain level, often through hard work.

secured

Highlights the act of making something safe or certain, often implying competition or risk.

earned

Emphasizes the idea of deserving something through effort or good behavior.

achieved

Focuses on the successful completion of a task or the realization of a goal.

derived

Indicates obtaining something from a source, often implying origin or cause.

collected

Suggests gathering things together, often systematically or for a specific purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "obtained" in a sentence?

"Obtained" indicates that something was acquired or achieved. For example, "The data was "obtained" through surveys" or "She "obtained" a degree in engineering".

What's the difference between "obtained" and "received"?

"Obtained" typically implies effort or action in acquiring something, while "received" simply means something was given or delivered. You "obtained" a grant by applying, but you received a gift from a friend.

What are some synonyms for "obtained" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use "acquired", "gained", "procured", or "attained" as alternatives to "obtained".

Is it better to use "obtained" or "got" in formal writing?

"Obtained" is generally more appropriate for formal writing than "got", as it maintains a more professional tone. "Got" is suitable for informal contexts.