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
Hair care and accessories brand Emi Jay has sold more than one million of its signature hair clips, which have attained cult status with the brand’s devoted customers, including Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner.
—
Emily Burns, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025
This situation has caused thousands of Michoacán residents to be displaced, with some arriving at the Tijuana-San Diego border hoping to attain asylum in the United States.
—Bernardo De Jesus Saldana Tellez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
Opposition lawmakers and experts have questioned whether the package will be effective in attaining its aims.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Nov. 2025
Labubus recently achieved global success after becoming viral and difficult to attain.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attain
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show current usage.
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Emily Burns, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025
This situation has caused thousands of Michoacán residents to be displaced, with some arriving at the Tijuana-San Diego border hoping to attain asylum in the United States.
—Bernardo De Jesus Saldana Tellez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
Opposition lawmakers and experts have questioned whether the package will be effective in attaining its aims.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Nov. 2025
Labubus recently achieved global success after becoming viral and difficult to attain.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attain
Cite this Entry
“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attain. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
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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