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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of attain
However, the industry-wide goal of attaining human-like intelligence in AI systems will only make this content harder for people to spot, even with all the well-meaning government legislation in the world.
—
ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
During an immersive 30 minutes, ELEGY achieves something many postclassical records strive for but rarely attain.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 11 June 2026
Caine had not attained the rank of four-star general, and had never led a joint military command.
—Clint Smith, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
The fundraiser said Solomon was born and raised in Ghana, eventually emigrating to the United States, attaining a nursing degree from Samuel Merritt University.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for attain
ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
During an immersive 30 minutes, ELEGY achieves something many postclassical records strive for but rarely attain.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 11 June 2026
Caine had not attained the rank of four-star general, and had never led a joint military command.
—Clint Smith, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
The fundraiser said Solomon was born and raised in Ghana, eventually emigrating to the United States, attaining a nursing degree from Samuel Merritt University.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for attain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attain
Verb
-
All this in addition to her high school diploma achieving the Scholar and Industry diploma designations and graduating with Summa Cum Laude honors.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 June 2026
-
The designer singled out the exceptional Refa fabrics and touted the sartorial prowess and heritage of the Veramonteforte atelier in delivering the same high-quality standards achieved with its made-to-measure activities.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The Seleção victory eliminates Haiti from knockout play and gives coach Carlo Ancelotti a bit of breathing room after his draw to open the tournament earned him criticism.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
-
The agreement outlines a 60-day ceasefire period; the strait could potentially close up again after that, or logistical concerns could arise if Tehran demands to earn traffic fees.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The event features food trucks, blow up games, T-shirts and a chance to win tickets to a game.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
-
Pan is banking on the tactic to win the Democrat-leaning 6th Congressional District, which under newly redrawn lines includes West Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin and communities north and east of Sacramento.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Rhaenyra’s army, led by her uncle and husband Daemon (Matt Smith), is gaining strength as they’re joined by a grizzled pack of House Stark northmen known as the Winter Wolves.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
22 June 2026
-
Trump might soon gain another ideological bedfellow in Peru with the election of Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of late autocrat Alberto Fujimori.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
So many of those parcels had been seized, stolen, or abandoned, or else were ticking away into the high season, cash millions worth of cannabis sown and soon to be reaped.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 June 2026
-
Large firms have outsourced labor-intensive work while reaping technology’s huge productivity gains.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Griffin filed a federal defamation lawsuit in Nevada on Monday, June 15, saying her middle school classmate Joleene Altum made false allegations against Griffin, according to documents obtained obtained by USA TODAY.—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
According to investigators, the group's drone builder proposed targeting a military-industrial facility to obtain the necessary explosive materials.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
This revelation sparks questions about a potential double standard by MLB, suggesting a stricter enforcement of uniform policies now that the issue has garnered national attention, compared to Kershaw's similar past actions.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
-
Lionel Messi’s incredible soccer career has garnered him millions of fans, but no one is as proud of him as his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Later, there were heavy planters added to the pool deck and other additions made to the building.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
-
The council made similar appointments when Patrick Cannon stepped down in 2014 after he was indicted on public corruption charges and in 2013 when Anthony Foxx left the city to become the federal secretary of transportation.—
Mary Ramsey
Updated June 22,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attain. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
