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
Before entering law enforcement, Bales served as an armored cavalry officer in the Army and attained the rank of captain.
—
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
The Jayhawks have matched their program record of 20 wins in conference play, a mark first attained in 2025.
—Gary Bedore
may 14, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
To be sure, annual grocery price increases remain well below a recent peak attained during the pandemic.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 May 2026
In a fragmented media world where critical mass is becoming harder to attain, Navarro has become one of media’s most recognizable political talking heads thanks to her two high-profile TV roles.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for attain
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Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
The Jayhawks have matched their program record of 20 wins in conference play, a mark first attained in 2025.
—Gary Bedore
may 14, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
To be sure, annual grocery price increases remain well below a recent peak attained during the pandemic.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 May 2026
In a fragmented media world where critical mass is becoming harder to attain, Navarro has become one of media’s most recognizable political talking heads thanks to her two high-profile TV roles.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 May 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 18 May. 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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