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
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
Anything that is found in the car after attaining consent can be used as evidence in court, according to Kann California Law Group.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Dual citizenship Henley & Partners is one of a number of companies that assists high-net-worth individuals in attaining dual citizenship around the globe.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha himself as core for attaining enlightenment.
—Deepa Bharath, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
Over the years, Brewer, as a pro athlete with endorsements, witnessed the transactions involving local Somali immigrants who were attaining wealth.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
To that end, Shaq is throwing in a new car as an incentive for Wilmore to focus on attaining his goal.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
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
Anything that is found in the car after attaining consent can be used as evidence in court, according to Kann California Law Group.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Dual citizenship Henley & Partners is one of a number of companies that assists high-net-worth individuals in attaining dual citizenship around the globe.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha himself as core for attaining enlightenment.
—Deepa Bharath, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
Over the years, Brewer, as a pro athlete with endorsements, witnessed the transactions involving local Somali immigrants who were attaining wealth.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
To that end, Shaq is throwing in a new car as an incentive for Wilmore to focus on attaining his goal.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attaining
Verb
-
That has kept most stars from achieving crossover appeal.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Churchgoers in the 2000s may remember a time when small groups met up for Ramsey’s Financial Peace University in hopes of achieving a debt-free life.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In his first full pro season in ’25, the southpaw dominated High-A before earning a promotion to Hartford.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The film was a critical and commercial smash, earning more than $100 million at the box office and scoring seven Oscars including best picture.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Keller stymies defending champ Coppell Claire Garritson scored the game-winning goal in the second half and Keller hung on to beat defending state champion Coppell 2-1 in the Class 6A Division 1 Region 1 Final on Tuesday night at Keller High School.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Grammy-winning musician made her Broadway debut as Zidler in the classic musical on March 24.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But ideas to spur Idaho’s stagnant housing stock — namely through deregulation or preemption of local land use — are gaining steam as the session drags on.—
Mark Dee
March 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Synthetic embryo models, such as blastoids and gastruloids, which replicate key stages in mammalian embryogenesis in vitro, are slowly gaining traction as viable means of ex-vivo development.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Control of the island would cut off the oil revenue Iran has been reaping, as its tankers would no longer be able to use the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jamie McIntyre,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
-
South Korea is already reaping the benefits from BTS' Saturday reunion.—
Cynthia Kim,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The order ensures that a lawyer can show up to meet with their client at the site during visitation hours every day of the week without first obtaining permission.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Plus, the panel talks about the challenges of obtaining public records and other information from governments and state agencies in Florida.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Machado went on to enjoy a long career in avant-garde theater, garnering accolades for his striking and magnetic stage presence, despite his modest claims otherwise.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
30 Mar. 2026
-
This content spread rapidly across X, Facebook, and other platforms, garnering tens of millions of views and adding confusion to the information environment surrounding the conflict.—
Steven Stalinsky,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The guard’s eyes widened when presented with the concept that the Bulls technically still had a shot at making the playoffs, at least for another game.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Education Department's notices to borrowers beginning Friday will direct them to enroll in a plan and resume making payments as soon as this summer.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attaining. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
