1
as in achieves
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 earns
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 attains
But if a person seeking status is already wealthy or attains corporate sponsorship, for instance, a viable pathway to citizenship opens up, even if only slightly.
—
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Gemini attains a very favorable position almost directly overhead.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Robert surreptitiously attains Alfred’s workbook/diary, where many secrets may exist.
—Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Gemini attains a very favorable position almost directly overhead.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Robert surreptitiously attains Alfred’s workbook/diary, where many secrets may exist.
—Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attains
Verb
-
Hamilton achieves an airy mode of self-astonishment that by degrees turns completely chilling.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Reiter achieves this impressive combination by building its mini-bus-like body from carbon fiber, delivering an empty vehicle cabin with high torsional rigidity, a very low weight and a roof capacity up to 1,100 lb (500 kg).—
C.C. Weiss
March 05,
New Atlas,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The top team earns automatic promotion to the fifth tier.—
Ryan Brennan
March 5,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The winner of this matchup earns the seventh playoff seed.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Players can multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Schnabel’s cinematic canon includes Basquiat, Before Night Falls, and 4x Oscar nominated The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, which earned the filmmaker a Best Director Oscar nom, and Best Director wins at the Cannes Film Festival, Golden Globes and Césars.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps some enterprising Democrat or Republican will come along who exhibits more faith in our constitutional system, governs with the foresight that there are more elections to come than just the next one — and reaps the benefits.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
-
And if the hypotheticals are not enough to dissuade, history is littered with teams trading away their future for immediate glories, seeing their plans implode, and being left with a ruinous future that becomes a hopeless present while another team reaps the benefits.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When within one second of a rival at a detection point, a driver gains access to additional electrical deployment—up to 350 kW—giving them a temporary performance advantage.—
Brad Spurgeon,
Robb Report,
9 Mar. 2026
-
And the subject of an investigation gains the power to control the flow of information.—
Vaughn Stewart,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The cool-girl pair garners plenty of praise, and the kicker?—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
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That doesn’t factor in the attention Cade Cunningham garners from defenders, which should generate open looks for Huerter.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The village obtains its water from the city of Elgin at a rate of about $100 per 1,000 gallons, Hof said.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The appeals court’s decision means Haitians with TPS can continue to work and remain protected from deportation unless the government obtains a stay from the Supreme Court or until the case is heard in full in federal court and the Haitian plaintiffs lose their appeal, which could take months.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The top two candidates in the June 2 primary will move on to a November runoff — even if the top finisher in June gets more than 50% of the vote.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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However the filmmakers entirely forget about his story until the end title cards, where the audience gets an update on his whereabouts.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attains. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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