Attend vs. Attain — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 30, 2023
To attend is to be present at an event or give attention, while to attain is to achieve or reach a goal or level.
Difference Between Attend and Attain
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Attend involves being present or participating in something. Attain refers to achieving or reaching a certain level or goal.
To attend can mean paying attention or taking care of something. Attain is about accomplishment, often after effort.
Attending events or meetings is common. Attaining goals requires effort and persistence.
Attendance can be physical or mental. Attainment is a measure of success or achievement.
Attend is often about presence or attention. Attain signifies achievement or acquisition.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
To be present or give attention to.
To achieve, reach, or accomplish.
Context
Events, meetings, duties.
Goals, objectives, statuses.
Nature
Passive or active presence.
Active effort towards a goal.
Outcome
Presence or attention.
Achievement or acquisition.
Usage
Often refers to physical or mental presence.
Refers to reaching or achieving something.
Compare with Definitions
Attend
To be present at an event.
She will attend the conference tomorrow.
Attain
To reach a certain level.
He attained mastery in his craft.
Attend
To go regularly to a place.
He attends the local gym.
Attain
To obtain something desired.
He attained a rare book.
Attend
To pay attention to.
Attend to the instructions carefully.
Attain
To achieve a particular state.
Attain a state of mindfulness through meditation.
Attend
To accompany or serve.
The nurse attends to the patient's needs.
Attain
To gain as an objective; achieve
Attain a diploma by hard work.
Attend
To deal with or manage.
We need to attend this issue immediately.
Attain
To come to or arrive at, as through movement, growth, or the passage of time
Redwoods can attain a height of 300 feet.
Attend
Be present at (an event, meeting, or function)
Her family were not invited to attend
The whole sales force attended the conference
Attain
To succeed in a directed effort, process, or progression
Attained to high office.
Eventually attained to wisdom.
Attend
Deal with
He muttered that he had business to attend to
Attain
(transitive) To gain (an object or desired result).
To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice each day.
Attend
Escort and wait on (a member of royalty or other important person)
Her Royal Highness was attended by Mrs Jane Stevens
Attain
(transitive) To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at (a place, time, state, etc.).
Attend
Occur with or as a result of
People feared that the switch to a peacetime economy would be attended by a severe slump
Attain
(intransitive) To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.
Attend
To be present at
Attended the lecture.
Attain
To get at the knowledge of.
Attend
To go regularly to
Attended class every Tuesday and Thursday.
Attain
To reach in excellence or degree.
Attend
To accompany as a circumstance or follow as a result
The speech was attended by wild applause.
Attain
To reach a person after being behind them.
Attend
To take care of (a sick person, for example). ]
Attain
To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest.
Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the means?
Attend
To listen to (something or someone); to pay attention to; regard; heed.
Attain
To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire.
Attend
To listen (to, unto).
Attain
To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain.
Not well attaining his meaning.
Attend
(intransitive) To turn one's consideration (to); to deal with (a task, problem, concern etc.), to look after.
Secretaries attend to correspondence.
Attain
To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.
Attend
(ambitransitive) To wait upon as a servant etc.; to accompany to assist (someone).
Valets attend to their employer's wardrobe.
Servants attend the king day and night.
Attain
To overtake.
Attend
(transitive) To be present at (an event or place) in order to take part in some action or proceedings; to regularly go to (an event or place).
Children must attend primary school.
Attain
To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.
Attend
To go to (a place) for some purpose (with at).
Attain
To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.
If by any means they might attain to Phenice.
Nor nearer might the dogs attain.
To see your trees attain to the dignity of timber.
Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this.
Attend
To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to.
A measure attended with ill effects
Attain
To come or arrive, by an effort of mind.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it.
Attend
To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for.
Attain
Attainment.
Attend
Alternative form of atend.
Attain
To gain with effort;
She achieved her goal despite setbacks
Attend
To direct the attention to; to fix the mind upon; to give heed to; to regard.
The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the unskillful words of the passenger.
Attain
Reach a point in time, or a certain state or level;
The thermometer hit 100 degrees
This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour
Attend
To care for; to look after; to take charge of; to watch over.
Attain
Find unexpectedly;
The archeologists chanced upon an old tomb
She struck a goldmine
The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake
Attend
To go or stay with, as a companion, nurse, or servant; to visit professionally, as a physician; to accompany or follow in order to do service; to escort; to wait on; to serve.
The fifth had charge sick persons to attend.
Attends the emperor in his royal court.
With a sore heart and a gloomy brow, he prepared to attend William thither.
Attain
Reach a destination, either real or abstract;
We hit Detroit by noon
The water reached the doorstep
We barely made it to the finish line
I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts
Attend
To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to; as, a measure attended with ill effects.
What cares must then attend the toiling swain.
Attain
To achieve a goal.
She attained her dream job.
Attend
To be present at; as, to attend church, school, a concert, a business meeting.
Attain
To accomplish after effort.
They finally attained success.
Attend
To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for.
The state that attends all men after this.
Three days I promised to attend my doom.
Attend
To apply the mind, or pay attention, with a view to perceive, understand, or comply; to pay regard; to heed; to listen; - usually followed by to.
Attend to the voice of my supplications.
Man can not at the same time attend to two objects.
Attend
To accompany or be present or near at hand, in pursuance of duty; to be ready for service; to wait or be in waiting; - often followed by on or upon.
He was required to attend upon the committee.
Attend
With to) To take charge of; to look after; as, to attend to a matter of business.
Attend
To wait; to stay; to delay.
For this perfection she must yet attend,Till to her Maker she espoused be.
Attend
Be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.;
She attends class regularly
I rarely attend services at my church
Did you go to the meeting?
Attend
Take charge of or deal with;
Could you see about lunch?
I must attend to this matter
She took care of this business
Attend
To accompany as a circumstance or follow as a result;
Menuhin's playing was attended by a 15-minute standing ovation
Attend
Work for or be a servant to;
May I serve you?
She attends the old lady in the wheelchair
Can you wait on our table, please?
Is a salesperson assisting you?
The minister served the King for many years
Attend
Give heed (to);
The children in the audience attended the recital quietly
She hung on his every word
They attended to everything he said
Common Curiosities
Can attend be used for events only?
No, it can also mean giving attention or taking care of something.
Can you attend something online?
Yes, attending can be physical or virtual.
Does attend imply active participation?
Not always; it can also mean passive presence.
Is attaining always a long process?
Often, but some attainments can be relatively quick.
Can attainment be a group effort?
Yes, groups or teams can attain goals together.
Can attainment be intangible?
Yes, like attaining peace of mind or skill levels.
Is attending always in real-time?
Generally, yes, though it can also refer to regular visits or care.
Is attain always about career goals?
No, it can be about any goal or level in various contexts.
Does attend have synonyms?
Yes, such as 'participate in' or 'be present at'.
Is attaining always positive?
Mostly, but it can be neutral depending on the context.
Can attain refer to physical objects?
Yes, it can mean obtaining or acquiring something.
Is attendance mandatory for events?
It depends on the context; sometimes attendance is optional.
Can someone attain something accidentally?
Rarely, as attain usually implies effort and purpose.
Is attend related to attention?
Yes, both involve focus or care.
Can you attend to someone's needs?
Yes, it means taking care of or serving them.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Thick vs. Wide
Next Comparison
Devastated vs. DistraughtAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
