Attain Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Published on July 10, 2025
Attain means to achieve, reach, or gain something through effort. e.g., She was proud to attain her goal of becoming a doctor.
Table of Contents
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Attain Definitions
To reach a particular level, age, or condition.
The athlete attained peak physical condition before the competition.
To obtain by effort or merit.
She attained her position in the company through hard work and dedication.
To achieve a desired objective or result through effort.
He worked hard to attain the highest grade in his class.
To succeed in an endeavor or plan.
She attained her goal of starting her own business.
To reach or achieve a specific state of knowledge or skill.
He attained proficiency in three languages.
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To come to a realization or understanding.
Through meditation, he attained a deeper sense of peace.
To come into possession of something; to acquire.
After years of saving, they finally attained financial independence.
To reach out and touch or grab something.
The baby tried to attain the toys hanging above her crib.
To gain as an objective; achieve
Attain a diploma by hard work.
To come to or arrive at, as through movement, growth, or the passage of time
Redwoods can attain a height of 300 feet.
To succeed in a directed effort, process, or progression
Attained to high office.
Eventually attained to wisdom.
(transitive) To gain (an object or desired result).
To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice each day.
(transitive) To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at (a place, time, state, etc.).
(intransitive) To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.
To get at the knowledge of.
To reach in excellence or degree.
To reach a person after being behind them.
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?
To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire.
To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain.
Not well attaining his meaning.
To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.
To overtake.
To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.
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.
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.
Attainment.
To gain with effort;
She achieved her goal despite setbacks
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
Find unexpectedly;
The archeologists chanced upon an old tomb
She struck a goldmine
The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake
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
To arrive at a place or point in a journey.
They attained the summit of the mountain just before noon.
To legally achieve or be granted a right or privilege.
They finally attained citizenship after living in the country for five years.
Attain Snonyms
Realize
To make a dream or idea come true.
He finally realized his ambition to become a chef.
Accomplish
To complete successfully.
They accomplished all tasks by the deadline.
Achieve
To successfully reach a desired objective.
He was thrilled to achieve his lifelong dream of flying a plane.
Fulfill
To carry out a promise or expectation.
She fulfilled her promise to visit her friend in Australia.
Obtain
To get possession of something, often by effort.
He obtained the necessary permits for the construction project.
Reach
To arrive at a goal or destination.
She reached her fitness goals within a year.
Win
To succeed in obtaining or achieving, often in the face of a challenge.
He won the award for best actor in a drama.
Secure
To gain possession or assurance of something.
She secured a place in the university's law program.
Garner
To acquire or amass as a result of effort.
He garnered respect for his honest work ethic.
Procure
To obtain something, especially with care or effort.
They procured rare ingredients for their new restaurant.
Attain Idioms & Phrases
Hard to attain
Difficult to achieve or obtain.
The scholarship was hard to attain due to the high competition.
Attain new heights
To reach new levels of success or development.
The company hoped to attain new heights with its innovative product.
Attain mastery
To reach a high level of skill or knowledge in something.
He practiced daily to attain mastery in piano.
Attain a consensus
To reach an agreement among a group.
The committee worked hard to attain a consensus on the issue.
Attain a milestone
To reach an important stage or event.
They celebrated as they attained the milestone of their 500th store opening.
Attain one’s potential
To fully realize one's capabilities or possibilities.
The mentor encouraged her to push harder to attain her potential.
Attain a reputation
To acquire a particular status or image among others.
Over the years, he attained a reputation as a fair and wise leader.
Attain peace
To reach a state of tranquility or agreement.
After a long conflict, the nations hoped to attain peace.
Attain Example Sentences
The team's effort to attain success was visible in their dedication.
The journey to attain peace can be long and arduous.
He struggled to attain a good work-life balance.
They hoped to attain a better understanding through dialogue.
They aimed to attain a greater market share with the new product.
She worked diligently to attain her professional goals.
It took years for her to attain a sense of confidence in her abilities.
It was difficult to attain a consensus in such a diverse group.
She was excited to attain a new personal best in the marathon.
To attain happiness, he believed in maintaining positive relationships.
The community's goal was to attain sustainable development.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide "attain" into syllables?
"Attain" is divided into syllables as at-tain.
What is a stressed syllable in "attain"?
The stressed syllable in "attain" is the second syllable, -tain.
What is the verb form of "attain"?
"Attain" itself is a verb.
What is the root word of "attain"?
The root of "attain" is the Old French "atindre."
How many syllables are in "attain"?
"Attain" has two syllables.
How is "attain" used in a sentence?
"Attain" is used to describe achieving or reaching a specific goal or level, e.g., She aimed to attain complete mastery over the subject.
What part of speech is "attain"?
"Attain" is a verb.
What is another term for "attain"?
Another term for "attain" is "achieve."
What is the second form of "attain"?
The second form of "attain" is "attained."
Why is it called "attain"?
The term "attain" comes from the Old French word "atindre," which means to reach, achieve, or arrive at.
What is the first form of "attain"?
The first form of "attain" is "attain."
What is the singular form of "attain"?
"Attain" is a verb and does not have a singular or plural form.
What is the pronunciation of "attain"?
"Attain" is pronounced as /əˈteɪn/.
What is the opposite of "attain"?
The opposite of "attain" could be "fail" or "lose."
Is the word "attain" imperative?
"Attain" can be used in the imperative mood as a command, e.g., "Attain your goals!"
Is the word "attain" Gerund?
The gerund form of "attain" is "attaining."
Which determiner is used with "attain"?
Determiners like "to" or "will" can be used with "attain," as in "to attain" or "will attain."
Is "attain" a negative or positive word?
"Attain" is generally considered a positive word, as it refers to achieving or succeeding.
What is the third form of "attain"?
The third form of "attain" is also "attained."
Is "attain" a countable noun?
"Attain" is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is the word “attain” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Attain" is a verb and thus can take a direct object, e.g., She attained a degree.
Which vowel is used before "attain"?
"A" is used before "attain" as in "to attain."
Which preposition is used with "attain"?
"To" is commonly used with "attain," as in "attain to a status."
Which conjunction is used with "attain"?
Conjunctions such as "and" can be used with "attain," e.g., "to work hard and attain success."
What is the plural form of "attain"?
As a verb, "attain" does not have a plural form.
Is "attain" an adverb?
No, "attain" is not an adverb.
Is "attain" an abstract noun?
"Attain" is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is "attain" a collective noun?
No, "attain" is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is "attain" a noun or adjective?
"Attain" is a verb.
Is "attain" a vowel or consonant?
"Attain" begins with a vowel sound.
Is the "attain" term a metaphor?
The term "attain" itself is not typically used as a metaphor; it is quite literal.
Which article is used with "attain"?
The article "the" can be used when referring to a specific achievement, e.g., "attain the goal."
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Written 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.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
