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
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 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
-
If Pan American Airways represented, at its height, victory and suavity, the country achieving a kind of European state of grace, then Spirit was the exact opposite—synonymous with the rowdy and the rude at the heart of the American character.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
What may sound like a dizzying lifestyle to some to Chiles is par for the course in achieving her loftiest goals across sports and beyond.—
Marquise Francis,
NBC news,
9 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
-
One approach gaining support is to slow the displacement of workers with new taxes on AI services and investments.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
Investigators determined that Skuce hired Logan Delp to kill Sheppard in order to prevent him from gaining custody or further visitation with his child.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
10 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
-
After obtaining his Carleen diploma, Bazile had to take the NCLEX, which 86% of people pass on the first try, five times before finally passing.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
-
The district will also work toward making sure all secondary literacy teachers are in the process of obtaining ESL certification, and building a foundation of skills that can help support language development within normal curriculum.—
Samuel O’Neal
May 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 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
-
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 10 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
