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verb

ottenere

obtain

Riuscire ad avere qualcosa che si desidera o si cerca.

Definition & meaning

Ottenere means to obtain, get, or achieve something, often through effort, a request, or a process. It can refer to receiving something tangible, such as a document, or achieving an intangible result, such as success.

Grammar & Word origin

Ottenere is a verb with an irregular conjugation. Its past participle is ottenuto, and it normally uses the auxiliary avere in compound tenses.

It comes from Latin obtinēre, formed from ob- and tenēre (“to hold”).

Synonyms & antonyms

  • conseguire — to achieve or attain; often used for goals, qualifications, or results.
  • ricevere — to receive; emphasizes being given something rather than the effort involved in obtaining it.
  • procurarsi — to get or secure something for oneself, often emphasizing the action taken to acquire it.
  • perdere — to lose; an opposite when referring to possession, though not in every context.

Common phrases & collocations

  • ottenere un risultato — to achieve a result.
  • ottenere un permesso — to obtain permission or a permit.
  • ottenere successo — to achieve success.

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Examples

Voglio ottenere buoni risultati a scuola.verb

I want to obtain good results at school.

Come hai ottenuto un permesso per entrare?verb

How did you obtain a permit to enter?

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