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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of attain
Jordan Chandler went on to attain legal emancipation from both of his parents.
—
Amelia McDonell-Parry, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Observers say such appointments suggest the Coastal Commission has already begun to change in ways that pro-housing reformers seem keen to attain.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
Presenting decent, competitive teams with the prospect of attaining the best lottery odds will only further encourage those in the middle of the standings to hold a fire sale at the trade deadline to try to drop down.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026
But before Apophis attained its infamous moniker, it was dubbed the less-exciting 2004 MN4 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for attain
Amelia McDonell-Parry, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Observers say such appointments suggest the Coastal Commission has already begun to change in ways that pro-housing reformers seem keen to attain.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
Presenting decent, competitive teams with the prospect of attaining the best lottery odds will only further encourage those in the middle of the standings to hold a fire sale at the trade deadline to try to drop down.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026
But before Apophis attained its infamous moniker, it was dubbed the less-exciting 2004 MN4 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for attain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attain
Verb
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This is just what Sottsass and Haring tried to achieve.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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Blue Origin has a long way to go before achieving 100 New Glenn flights, and doing it within three years sounds overly optimistic.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The Thunder earned a bit of a break and await the Lakers, potentially without Luka Dončić.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
2 May 2026
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Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The big man, who won the 2016 NBA Championship as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, previously had his younger sibling under a guardianship, according to TMZ.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Schindler also put down the winning kill in both games for the Knights (16-5, 1-1).—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the early nineteenth century, more than a dozen colonies in the Americas gained their freedom, including Haiti, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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As well as receiving cash to reinvest directly into their businesses, the 5 winners will gain access to Zoom mentorship, technology resources, and partnerships.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Verb
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But true patriarchy is a two-way street, and twenty-first century men want to reap all the benefits of that system without making any of the sacrifices.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
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Sol de Janeiro’s body lotion comes with a convenient pump that quickly dispenses the lotion so my skin can reap the benefits of the formula.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Verb
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According to court records obtained by USA TODAY, a class action lawsuit against Wren Kitchens US subsidiary was filed alleging that the company violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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Settlements typically require plaintiffs to sign confidentiality agreements, and corporate documents obtained through discovery have to be returned to State Farm or destroyed.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Scientology is a religious group shrouded in privacy that has garnered attention for its celebrity adherents, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta.—
Joe Kottke,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
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In the days following, Glover posted his experience online and garnered nearly nine million views across platforms.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The pop star arrived at the gala wearing a Dior dress made completely of film.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
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Vahmistrovs made the decision to end his hockey career in high school in order to pursue aviation and play baseball next year at Dubuque.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attain. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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