attain

verb

ə-ˈtān How to pronounce attain (audio)
Definition of attainnext
1
as in to achieve
to obtain (as a goal) through effort Napoléon had attained mastery of much of Europe at that point

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to earn
to receive as return for effort with hard work she will inevitably attain success in her chosen profession

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of attain This is a big step, particularly in Hinduism, where gurus are part of culture and deemed necessary to attain moksha — liberation from the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 The Tennessee singer-songwriter, actor, and philanthropist hailed from a vanishing class, a 20th-century monocultural phenomenon who attained a household-name status that never lost its luster. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 Those high scores were attained by studying alongside her new girlfriend. — Wilbert L. Cooper, Longreads, 25 Aug. 2026 But the White House cut its offices and weakened its ability to follow up with cases, as well as slashed funding to research on disparities that people of color face in getting diagnosed and attaining resources for disabilities. — Claire Sibonney, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attain
  1. achieve
  2. earn
  3. win
  4. gain
  5. reap
  6. obtain
  7. garner
  8. make
Verb
  • The team achieved 10 times better performance than GNSS systems, with a one nautical mile of positioning accuracy.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Kusama also achieved something that has eluded other artists who were co-opted by commerce and converted avant-garde energies into branding, including Warhol, Haring, Koons, and Murakami.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of achieve
Verb
  • Some soldiers distinguished themselves by helping to render emergency trauma response and first aid to civilians, earning individual service commendations, according to the Arkansas National Guard.
    — Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2026
  • On Monday, those five writers — also DSA-LA members — panned the idea of an endorsement, saying Raman hasn’t earned it.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of earn
Verb
  • The contestants will have to design a wedding dress that showcases their style, and the winning design will be produced and sold by David’s Bridal.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In the final moments of the game, Chad scores the game-winning touchdown, but a penalty sets them back with just two seconds left on the clock.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of win
Verb
  • Oswego finished seven of its 11 drives by scoring points and gained 483 yards.
    — Jerry Birchfield, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Iceland, which gained independence from Denmark in 1944, has a proud history of independence, of not allowing itself to be pushed around by bigger and richer European nations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of gain
Verb
  • Opponents also rallied around the fact that Iceland already reaps benefits from being in the EU’s frictionless single market and the Schengen free-travel zone without the sovereignty compromises that come with full membership.
    — Kwiyeon Ha, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Opponents rallied around fishing and the fact that Iceland already reaps benefits from being in the EU’s frictionless single market and the Schengen free-travel zone without the sovereignty compromises that inevitably come with full membership.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of reap
Verb
  • According to the police documents obtained by Law & Crime, Weatherall, 22, ordered a Lyft ride to an apartment complex in Greenville.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026
  • After obtaining the suspect's name and descriptions of both the man and his vehicle, DeLong cleared the call.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of obtain
Verb
  • Over the years, Allen has garnered praise from Inter Miami coaches for playing bigger than his size (5-9), for his versatility and coachability.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
  • After world premiering in 1990 in Cannes, where Depardieu won Best Actor, the film enjoyed a buzzy awards season garnering five nominations in the lead up to the 63rd Academy Awards, including for Best Actor and Best Foreign Language Film.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of garner
Verb
  • Bonnell is the latest company to make that argument, launching the new 805 RX as the first model in its e-Moto lineup.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Also, supportive connections between Mercury and Mars make this a great time for addressing personal matters with a clear head and common sense.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of make

Browse Nearby Words

attacks
attain
attainability
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Cite this Entry

“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attain. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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