1
as in achieving
to obtain (as a goal) through effort
Napoléon had attained mastery of much of Europe at that point
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in earning
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 attaining
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
The first season ended on a final note, and became wildly popular upon its 2023 release, attaining the coveted top spot on the streaming viewership rankings and winning eight Emmys.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
For years, Dean Potter stood atop the climbing world, attaining a mystique as a rebellious spirit who carved his own path up mountains and into the sky — through BASE jumping and wingsuit flying.
—Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
In the photo, Alito has the look of a man attaining his destiny.
—Peter S. Canellos, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
His higher calling hit while attaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering and computer science from the University of Illinois and University of Illinois Chicago, says the 61-year-old pastor.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Liz Breadon, now the City Council president, added at the time that such a mistake could jeopardize an immigrant’s chances of attaining full citizenship.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
Oakland’s leaders envision their town attaining similar big-city status.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha as core to attaining enlightenment.
—CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026
The first season ended on a final note, and became wildly popular upon its 2023 release, attaining the coveted top spot on the streaming viewership rankings and winning eight Emmys.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
For years, Dean Potter stood atop the climbing world, attaining a mystique as a rebellious spirit who carved his own path up mountains and into the sky — through BASE jumping and wingsuit flying.
—Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
In the photo, Alito has the look of a man attaining his destiny.
—Peter S. Canellos, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
His higher calling hit while attaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering and computer science from the University of Illinois and University of Illinois Chicago, says the 61-year-old pastor.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Liz Breadon, now the City Council president, added at the time that such a mistake could jeopardize an immigrant’s chances of attaining full citizenship.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
Oakland’s leaders envision their town attaining similar big-city status.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha as core to attaining enlightenment.
—CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attaining
Verb
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What went into achieving that brilliant energy between you and Mitchell, behind the scenes?—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Sacking him is an embarrassment for all concerned, but 106 days after his appointment, Chelsea’s executives felt a change was needed to give the club the best possible chance of achieving their remaining aims for the season.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Barker studied film, cinema and video production at the University of Southern California for two years before earning a bachelor's degree in communication and media studies from the University of Miami in 2011, per LinkedIn.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
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Chapman University’s commencement weekend will run through May 24 and honor more than 3,000 Class of 2026 graduates, including approximately 850 earning advanced degrees across the university’s 11 schools and colleges.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This marks their first winning streak of at least seven games within April since 1989 (also seven).—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
In another era of Top Chef, the winning dishes actually would have made their way onto the Cracker Barrel menu.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Broadnax's case is gaining national attention for what his attorneys say was an unfair trial that saw prosecutors eliminate almost every potential Black juror and use Broadnax's own rap lyrics against him.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
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For one, Palestine by Joe Sacco, which found its way onto academic syllabi before gaining steam as a collected volume of graphic reporting.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Do not use reaping decoys while hunting turkeys on public ground.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
16 Apr. 2026
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That influence is now reaping benefits from the community, as attendance and sponsorships continue to rise with their social media presence.—
PJ Green
April 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Faced with a choice between keeping its existing three-night-stay minimum or obtaining state permission for a cap on the total number of vacation rentals allowed in Encinitas, a majority of the City Council opted to stick with the current night-stay requirement.—
Barbara Henry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Detectives conducted a separate investigation that led to Waterbury police obtaining a warrant for his arrest, Morais said.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Long considered a quick stopover on the way to the glamorous Amalfi Coast, Capri, or Ischia, Naples (Napoli in Italian) is garnering more attention these days.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Apr. 2026
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San Francisco's iconic Fisherman's Wharf, which draws tourists from around the globe, has been garnering some mixed reactions from visitors.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The agency added city funding is expected to make up the majority of its staffing budget going forward, making its future structure heavily dependent on decisions by the City of Los Angeles.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Las Vegas has depth at the edge, making the Auburn product an interesting pick considering needs like offensive line, defensive tackle and wide receiver are still unfilled.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attaining. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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