attained; attaining; attains
2
: to come into possession of : obtain
he attained preferment over his fellows
3
: to come to as the end of a progression or course of movement
They attained the top of the hill.
attain a ripe old age
: to come or arrive by motion, growth, or effort
—usually used with to
will probably attain to a height of six feet
Synonyms
Examples of attain in a Sentence
a quest to attain enlightenment
She refused to let the injury keep her from attaining her goal of being in the Olympics.
This kind of tree can attain a height of 20 feet within just a few years.
The car can attain a top speed of 200 mph.
Recent Examples on the Web
Many families also struggle to access early childhood education and other learning opportunities that wealthier families can attain.
—
Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2024
Farrell did not have to sit for hours in a makeup trailer to attain this new look.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for attain 
Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2024
Farrell did not have to sit for hours in a makeup trailer to attain this new look.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for attain
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'attain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attain. Accessed 13 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
attain
verb
at·tain
ə-ˈtān 
1
: to reach as a goal : accomplish, achieve
2
: to come to possess : obtain
3
: to arrive at : reach
attain the top of the mountain
—often used with to
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