attained; attaining; attains
2
: to come into possession of : obtain
he attained preferment over his fellows
3
: to come to as the end of a progression or course of movement
They attained the top of the hill.
attain a ripe old age
: to come or arrive by motion, growth, or effort
—usually used with to
will probably attain to a height of six feet
Examples of attain in a Sentence
a quest to attain enlightenment
She refused to let the injury keep her from attaining her goal of being in the Olympics.
This kind of tree can attain a height of 20 feet within just a few years.
The car can attain a top speed of 200 mph.
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet the engagement process revealed a real problem that must be addressed if Chicago hopes to attain long-term fiscal sustainability.
—
Karen Freeman-Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
In our post-religious era—in which, beneath the cloak of secular humanitarianism, righteous religiosity and virtuous crusading remain as potent as ever—history has attained the authority, authenticity and prestige that religion and its prelates once possessed.
—
Simon Sebag Montefiore,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
Walt Hazzard and Gail Goodrich didn’t attain the necessary 75% of votes.
—
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
And although his father, who went on to serve as Liberia’s president, attained a list of accolades on the soccer field, making the World Cup roster (twice) is an achievement that sets Tim apart.
—
Kaylah Jackson,
NBC news,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for attain
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show current usage.
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Karen Freeman-Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
In our post-religious era—in which, beneath the cloak of secular humanitarianism, righteous religiosity and virtuous crusading remain as potent as ever—history has attained the authority, authenticity and prestige that religion and its prelates once possessed.
—
Simon Sebag Montefiore,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
Walt Hazzard and Gail Goodrich didn’t attain the necessary 75% of votes.
—
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
And although his father, who went on to serve as Liberia’s president, attained a list of accolades on the soccer field, making the World Cup roster (twice) is an achievement that sets Tim apart.
—
Kaylah Jackson,
NBC news,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for attain
Cite this Entry
“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attain. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
attain
verb
at·tain
ə-ˈtān 
1
: to reach as a goal : accomplish, achieve
2
: to come to possess : obtain
3
: to arrive at : reach
attain the top of the mountain
—often used with to
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