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
Few people would consider a career as a regional, impersonator-style vocalist to be worthwhile; even fewer would, having attained such a career, try to make themselves into something more than a novelty act.
—
Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
That figure marks a significant drop from a recent peak attained in 2023, but borrowing costs remain well above a 0% rate established at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
But if a person seeking status is already wealthy or attains corporate sponsorship, for instance, a viable pathway to citizenship opens up, even if only slightly.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for attain
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Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
That figure marks a significant drop from a recent peak attained in 2023, but borrowing costs remain well above a 0% rate established at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
But if a person seeking status is already wealthy or attains corporate sponsorship, for instance, a viable pathway to citizenship opens up, even if only slightly.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 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 11 Jan. 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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