/əˈbteɪnɪŋ/
Say it backObtaining means acquiring or gaining possession of something, typically through effort or persistence. It can also refer to the act of securing or attaining a goal, item, or outcome. The term is commonly used in formal and academic contexts, including law, business, and research, to denote successful procurement or attainment.
"She is obtaining the necessary permits before starting the project."
"The company is obtaining data to support its new policy."
"Researchers are obtaining samples from multiple sites for analysis."
Pronounce as /ˌɒbˈteɪnɪŋ/ in UK/AU and /ˌɑːbˈteɪnɪŋ/ in US variants, with primary stress on the second syllable -teɪn-. Begin with a light initial /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ depending on accent, then /b/ followed by /teɪn/ and finishing with /ɪŋ/. IPA: US /ˌɑbˈteɪnɪŋ/, UK /ˌɒbˈteɪnɪŋ/. Audio reference: try hearing the sequence in pronunciation videos or dictionary audio by searching “ob-tain-ing”.
Common mistakes: 1) Slurring or dropping the unstressed initial syllable leading to /ˈɒbtənɪŋ/ instead of /ˌɒbˈteɪnɪŋ/. 2) Misplacing the /eɪ/ diphthong by saying /eɪ/ too short or as /eɪn/; ensure the /teɪn/ cluster remains clear. 3) Final '-ing' pronounced as /ɪŋ/ with a nasal only, neglecting the preceding /n/ clarity. Focus on lengthening the /eɪ/ and ensuring /n/ is deliberate before the /ɪŋ/.
In US English, the /ɒ/ of the first syllable often shifts toward /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ depending on region, but the /ˈteɪn/ syllable remains clear with a strong /eɪ/. UK English typically has a shorter /ɒ/ and a crisper /teɪn/; rhoticity is common but not affecting ob-. Australian English resembles British in vowel quality, with less pronounced rhoticity and a bright /eɪ/. Overall, the main difference is vowel quality in the first syllable and subtle timing of the /t/ release.
The difficulty lies in the three-part structure: a stressed mid-syllable /teɪn/ combined with a clear /b/ onset after a potentially reduced /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ vowel, followed by a final /ɪŋ/. Getting the /t/ and /eɪ/ to connect smoothly; avoiding a weak /t/ or a mis-timed shift to /ɪŋ/ are common errors. Practicing the transition from /b/ to /teɪn/ and maintaining the /eɪ/ sound with a full tongue blade helps clarity.
In careful, careful speech, the /t/ in ob-TAIN-ing is typically aspirated at syllable onset, especially when stress lands on /teɪ/. In fluent, rapid speech, it may become a light or unreleased stop if the following segment blurs the boundary; however, in careful diction you’ll hear a distinct /t/ release before the /eɪ/. IPA context: /ˌɒbˈteɪnɪŋ/.
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US: /ˌɑbˈteɪnɪŋ/ with clear /teɪ/; non-rhotic tendencies won’t affect this word much but some speakers may drop the r in nearby syllables. UK/AU: /ˌɒbˈteɪnɪŋ/ or /ˌɒbˈteɪnɪŋ/; expect crisper consonants and more precise vowel timing. Accent notes: focus on the salience of /eɪ/ diphthong, ensure /b/ doesn’t assimilate into a softer /v/ or /w/ by keeping bilabial closure momentary but audible; rhoticity is less influential in this word, but ensure non-rhotic links in connected speech.
Obtaining derives from the verb obtain, which comes from the Latin obtinere, formed from ob- ‘toward, against’ + tenere ‘to hold’. In Latin, obtinere meant ‘to hold toward, to possess, or to gain.’ The English form appeared in the 15th century, initially in more literal senses of holding to or keeping something; by the 16th–17th centuries, it broadened to mean securing or gaining possession, achievement, or information. The suffix -ing signals a present participle/gerund, used in English to denote the action of obtaining or the process of acquiring. Over time, obtainings usage sharpened toward formal or technical registers (law, science, business), where “obtaining data,” “obtaining permits,” or “obtaining evidence” are common collocations. The semantic shift emphasizes process and effort toward reaching a goal, often implying a continuous or repeated action in professional contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "obtaining" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "obtaining"
-ing sounds
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