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
What came after needs to be reckoned with, perhaps requiring more distance to attain perspective.
—
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Try Oribe’s Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Crème, made with olive and avocado oils to attain deeply penetrating hydration.
—Talia Gutierrez, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
Baz’s intelligence also stretches to the sense that Knight will go back to Bond’s beginnings as a Royal Navy Commander before he was recruited by MI6, the UK’s foreign intelligence agency, and chart how Bond attained 007 status.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025
Cassidy, a full-time teacher, was just six months away from attaining her degree in education, while Connor had recently been promoted in her role as a personal assistant.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attain
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Try Oribe’s Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Crème, made with olive and avocado oils to attain deeply penetrating hydration.
—Talia Gutierrez, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
Baz’s intelligence also stretches to the sense that Knight will go back to Bond’s beginnings as a Royal Navy Commander before he was recruited by MI6, the UK’s foreign intelligence agency, and chart how Bond attained 007 status.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025
Cassidy, a full-time teacher, was just six months away from attaining her degree in education, while Connor had recently been promoted in her role as a personal assistant.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attain
Verb
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This configuration allows the containerized launcher to work with the ship’s existing sensors, achieving full engagement capability without requiring new hardware.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The last one – the last out of a game, say, or the last victory in a playoff series – is considered the hardest one to achieve, if old adages and the like are to be believed.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The starters in those games combined for 3 1/3 innings and 10 runs (six earned) allowed.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Anyone who gets into that position has definitely earned it.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Missouri could have won its 16th straight at home Saturday but lost to the Crimson Tide.—
Jim Keyser,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Pittsburg State has won five straight and stands 5-1, 4-1 in the MIAA.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Whether the move is about Netflix’s push into ads, gaining a better foothold locally or retaining subscribers — or all three — is yet to be discovered.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Manning was sacked just once and the line paved the way for Quintrevion Wisner to gain 93 yards in the final three quarters after the running back netted just 1 in the first period.—
Sam Khan Jr,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Grays were generally intellectual tech elites who would reap the fruits of technological progress.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
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Outside of the Kendrick of it all, two of hip-hop’s leading ladies are also likely to reap bids in this category.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Many of them had easy access to government offices that enabled them to obtain genuine Syrian passports with fake names, according to former employees and regime figures.—
Danny Makki,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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In 2021, the firm obtained a loan from a Madison Realty Capital affiliate to finance construction, county records show.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The show became a cultural phenomenon, though Keaton garnered early press for refusing a $50 nightly bonus to shed her clothes during performances, according to Playbill.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
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The brand has already garnered a strong following stateside, with Neiman Marcus among wholesale accounts, and is now opening international wholesale.—
Alex Wynne,
Footwear News,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Multiple board members cited the ability to make the time commitment and experience in K-12 education as desirable characteristics.—
Edward McKinnon,
Arkansas Online,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Farke has a decision to make at Turf Moor on Saturday.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attain. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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