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
Relevance
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
Success will be determined around that goal — either attaining it or at minimum, looking like a real threat to do so.
—
Varun Shankar, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
Granted, his policy regarding Iran not attaining a nuclear weapon is a good one.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 May 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
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
Varun Shankar, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
Granted, his policy regarding Iran not attaining a nuclear weapon is a good one.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 May 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attaining
Verb
-
Check out our top picks for achieving his look like a bold pair of eyeglasses, clean suit separates, a crisp shirt and standout accessories including brooches, pocket squares and more!—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
-
In another sweeping effort to mitigate a weighty budget deficit and work towards achieving future financial stability, Evanston-Skokie District 65 has announced plans to eliminate all middle school librarian positions beginning next year, according to multiple district officials.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Poorer households, defined as those earning less than $40,000, cut their gas consumption by 7%, the report found, but still spent 12% more on gas in March.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
To tow the car five miles and hold it at a towing site cost $430, which if someone is earning only the minimum wage is a lot of money.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Aspen Wooten, a talented tennis prodigy who moved from Memphis to Lake Nona with her family as a ninth grader, had accomplished just about everything available in her four-year high school career — including winning more than 100 matches.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
Even as anthropologists were decisively abandoning totemism, however, the idea was gaining cultural credibility elsewhere.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
And Chinese carmakers are fast gaining market share there.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Rethinking the design of core functions and processes has been critical for reaping AI’s benefits, Licht says.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
-
Le Prunier is reaping long-term gains.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Tomlinson, who is originally from Michigan, moved to California after obtaining a political science degree and previously worked as a labor organizer for government employee unions.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
2 May 2026
-
Still, travelers may encounter obstacles obtaining their refunds.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
But by the mid-1920s, Ireland’s focus shifted to garnering a greater sense of stability.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The disinterest by investors in garnering liquidity at a steep discount comes amid a quarter that saw elevated redemptions across most private-credit, non-traded BDCs.—
Leslie Picker,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In stark contrast to the teenage social scene once synonymous with malls, many of Lincolnwood’s shoppers seemed to come there alone, making beelines for the still-open Old Navy or Victoria Secret without ever removing their headphones.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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The Moon in Aquarius moves through your 9th House and trines Venus in your sign, making learning and creative thinking especially fertile.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attaining. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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