Explanation at your level:
Something is obtainable if you can get it. If you have money, a toy is obtainable. If you have a map, the park is obtainable. It means you can reach it.
When you want to say you can get something, you use obtainable. It is common in shops or school. For example, 'The book is obtainable at the library.' It means it is there for you to take.
In intermediate English, obtainable is used to describe resources or information. If a teacher says 'The information is obtainable from the website,' they mean you can find it there. It is a very useful word for school projects.
At the B2 level, you use obtainable to discuss goals and objectives. You might say 'The target is obtainable if we work hard.' It suggests that success is possible through effort, making it a great word for business or formal writing.
Advanced learners use obtainable to describe abstract concepts or complex datasets. It implies a degree of accessibility that requires specific conditions. It is frequently used in academic discourse to note that evidence is 'obtainable' under certain experimental parameters.
At the mastery level, obtainable is used with nuance to contrast with 'attainable' or 'accessible.' While 'attainable' often refers to abstract goals, 'obtainable' often refers to tangible assets or data points. It is a staple in formal reports, legal documents, and high-level research papers.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means something can be gotten.
- Used mostly in formal contexts.
- Often paired with 'easily' or 'readily'.
- Adjective form of the verb 'obtain'.
Hey there! Let's talk about obtainable. Think of it as the opposite of 'impossible to get.' When you say something is obtainable, you are essentially saying that it is within reach. It doesn't necessarily mean it's easy to get—it just means that if you put in the work, pay the price, or follow the right steps, you can secure it.
You will see this word a lot in professional settings. For instance, a scientist might say that 'data is obtainable' if they have the right equipment to measure it. It sounds a bit more formal than just saying 'you can get it,' which is why it is a favorite in business reports and academic papers.
The word obtainable comes from the Latin word obtainere, which means 'to hold, possess, or gain.' It combines ob- (meaning 'in front of' or 'towards') and tenere (meaning 'to hold').
Over time, it moved through Old French before landing in English during the 15th century. It has always carried the sense of 'getting a hold of something.' Interestingly, the root tenere is also the ancestor of words like 'tenant' and 'maintain,' showing how English vocabulary is built on these sturdy, ancient building blocks.
You use obtainable when you want to sound precise. It is a great word for describing goals or physical objects. Common collocations include 'easily obtainable' or 'barely obtainable,' which help describe just how much effort is needed.
While you might say 'the milk is in the fridge' in casual conversation, you would use 'obtainable' in a report to say 'the necessary supplies are obtainable from the central warehouse.' It shifts the tone from casual to objective.
While 'obtainable' itself isn't a core part of many idioms, it relates to the concept of low-hanging fruit (meaning something easily obtainable). Another related concept is within reach, which means the same thing as obtainable. We also talk about attainable goals, which is a synonym often used in project management.
When something is hard to come by, it is the opposite of obtainable. Finally, saying something is up for grabs suggests it is currently obtainable by anyone who acts fast.
Obtainable is an adjective, so it describes nouns. The stress is on the second syllable: ob-TAIN-a-ble. In IPA, it is written as /əbˈteɪnəbl/.
It doesn't have a plural form because it describes a quality. It is often used with the verb 'to be' (e.g., 'The data is obtainable'). It rhymes with words like 'attainable,' 'explainable,' and 'sustainable,' which all share that handy '-able' suffix indicating possibility.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'tenacious'—someone who is tenacious holds on tightly!
Pronunciation Guide
ob-TAIN-uh-bull
ob-TAIN-uh-bull
Common Errors
- stressing the first syllable
- mispronouncing the 'ai' sound
- dropping the 'ble' ending
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Standard academic vocabulary
Useful for formal writing
Easy to pronounce
Clear sounds
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective Suffixes
-able means 'can be'
Subject-Verb Agreement
The data is obtainable.
Preposition Usage
Obtainable from/by.
Examples by Level
The toy is obtainable.
gettable
adjective
Water is obtainable here.
available
adjective
Is the pen obtainable?
can I get it
question
The map is obtainable.
you can get it
adjective
Food is obtainable now.
ready to get
adjective
Tickets are obtainable.
you can buy them
adjective
Help is obtainable.
you can get help
adjective
The file is obtainable.
you can have it
adjective
The information is obtainable online.
These parts are easily obtainable.
Is the result obtainable today?
Fresh fruit is obtainable at the market.
The application form is obtainable from the office.
Are these items obtainable?
The data is obtainable from the study.
Success is obtainable with practice.
The software is obtainable for free.
Evidence is obtainable through careful research.
The permit is obtainable at the city hall.
Are these rare books still obtainable?
The goal is obtainable if we plan well.
The medicine is obtainable by prescription.
The records are obtainable upon request.
The supplies are obtainable from the warehouse.
The funding is obtainable through grants.
The solution is obtainable via this method.
These materials are not easily obtainable.
The statistics are obtainable from the census.
A compromise is obtainable if both sides agree.
The truth is obtainable through investigation.
The documents are obtainable from the archive.
The promotion is obtainable with more experience.
The required samples are obtainable under strict conditions.
The consensus is obtainable through dialogue.
The peak performance is obtainable with training.
The elusive data is finally obtainable.
The permit is obtainable via bureaucratic channels.
The vision is obtainable through persistence.
The rare artifact is obtainable at auction.
The objective is obtainable within the deadline.
The equilibrium is obtainable through precise calibration.
The theoretical proof is obtainable via induction.
The historical record is obtainable from primary sources.
The outcome is obtainable through systematic analysis.
The consensus is obtainable despite the friction.
The resources are obtainable at a significant cost.
The clarity is obtainable through reflection.
The goal remains obtainable despite the setbacks.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"within reach"
easily obtainable
Success is within reach.
neutral"up for grabs"
available to anyone
The prize is up for grabs.
casual"low-hanging fruit"
easily obtainable target
Let's focus on the low-hanging fruit.
business"at your fingertips"
easily accessible
The data is at your fingertips.
neutral"on tap"
ready for use
We have new ideas on tap.
casualEasily Confused
both end in -able
attainable is for goals, obtainable for things
Goal is attainable; book is obtainable.
both mean you can get them
available is broader
The seat is available; the data is obtainable.
both mean reachable
accessible is for places/info
The building is accessible; the result is obtainable.
it is the root
obtain is the verb
I want to obtain the item; the item is obtainable.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + obtainable + from + source
The map is obtainable from the desk.
It + is + obtainable + by + agent
The result is obtainable by the team.
The + noun + is + easily + obtainable
The data is easily obtainable.
Are + noun + obtainable + ?
Are the files obtainable?
We + found + that + X + is + obtainable
We found that the goal is obtainable.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
You get things FROM a source, not TO a source.
Easily is a more natural collocation.
By is more precise for agency.
Attainable is more common for abstract goals.
Use from for sources.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a hand grabbing an object; that's 'obtainable'.
When Native Speakers Use It
In business meetings to sound professional.
Cultural Insight
Used in formal English to show respect for process.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use 'obtainable from' for sources.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'TAIN' syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it as a verb.
Did You Know?
It comes from Latin 'tenere' meaning to hold.
Study Smart
Group it with 'attainable' and 'sustainable'.
Improve Style
Use it instead of 'get' in essays.
Sound Natural
Use 'readily obtainable' for emphasis.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Obtain-able: If you can OBTAIN it, it is ABLE to be held.
Visual Association
A person reaching for a fruit on a tree.
Word Web
Challenge
List 5 things in your room that are obtainable.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To hold or possess
Cultural Context
None.
Used frequently in professional environments to sound objective.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- obtainable from HR
- readily obtainable data
- is the goal obtainable?
at school
- books are obtainable
- info is obtainable
- obtainable credits
shopping
- is this item obtainable?
- obtainable at the counter
- still obtainable?
research
- obtainable results
- data is obtainable
- evidence is obtainable
Conversation Starters
"What is something you find easily obtainable?"
"Do you think success is always obtainable?"
"Where is the most obtainable source of information?"
"Is a perfect score obtainable?"
"Why is some data not obtainable?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a goal you believe is obtainable.
Write about a time you found something obtainable.
Why is it important for information to be obtainable?
List three things that are obtainable in your city.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is an adjective.
Usually no, it is for things or goals.
They are very similar, but obtainable implies effort.
ob-TAIN-uh-bull.
Yes, it is more formal than 'gettable'.
It is better to say 'easily obtainable'.
Yes, often for data or samples.
No, adjectives don't have plurals.
Test Yourself
The book is ___ at the library.
It means you can get it.
What does obtainable mean?
It means within reach.
Something unobtainable is easy to get.
Un- makes it the opposite.
Word
Meaning
Matching opposites.
Standard subject-verb order.
The permit is ___ from the office.
Adjective needed.
Which is a synonym for obtainable?
Both mean reachable.
Obtainable is a verb.
It is an adjective.
The results are ___ through rigorous testing.
Fits the context best.
Which prefix makes obtainable negative?
Unobtainable is the correct form.
Score: /10
Summary
If you can get it, it is obtainable—a perfect word for your professional vocabulary.
- Means something can be gotten.
- Used mostly in formal contexts.
- Often paired with 'easily' or 'readily'.
- Adjective form of the verb 'obtain'.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a hand grabbing an object; that's 'obtainable'.
When Native Speakers Use It
In business meetings to sound professional.
Cultural Insight
Used in formal English to show respect for process.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use 'obtainable from' for sources.
Example
Fresh ingredients are easily obtainable at the local market during the summer months.
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