Attain has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
Verb
Verb
1
to gain with effort
"she achieved her goal despite setbacks"
2
reach a point in time, or a certain state or level
"The thermometer hit 100 degrees"
"This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour"
3
find unexpectedly
"the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb"
"she struck a goldmine"
"The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake"
4
reach a destination, either real or abstract
"We hit Detroit by noon"
"The water reached the doorstep"
"We barely made it to the finish line"
"I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts"
5
To gain (an object or desired result).
"She worked hard to attain her goal of becoming a doctor."
In plain English: To attain means to finally get something you worked hard for, like reaching your goal.
"She worked hard to attain her goal of becoming a doctor."
Example Sentences
"She worked hard to attain her goal of becoming a doctor."
verb
"She worked hard to attain her dream of becoming a pilot."
verb
"It is difficult to attain success without persistence and dedication."
verb
"The students spent years studying to attain their degrees in engineering."
verb
Related Terms
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Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
Origin
The word "attain" entered English via the path of Middle English, Anglo-Norman, and Old French before originating in the Latin attingō. It originally meant to reach or touch something physically, a sense that evolved into its modern meaning of achieving a goal.