attain

verb

ə-ˈtān How to pronounce attain (audio)
Definition of attainnext
1
as in to achieve
to obtain (as a goal) through effort Napoléon had attained mastery of much of Europe at that point

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to earn
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 attain Having already attained a reputation as a stellar designer (on top of being a Best Actress Oscar winner, of course), Keaton spent years creating her dream home from the ground up. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 10 Aug. 2026 August 8 brings profundity to the midsummer air, as the annual Lion’s Gate Portal encourages us to attain our dreams. — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026 Ward explained that despite being unable to attain traditional markers of economic success such as home-buying, Gen Z is able to find financial empowerment elsewhere, not just through investing, but paving the way for their own careers. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 One way to think about Mahler’s extravagant 90-minute exercise in his search for life’s meaning is as an exercise in attaining optimism in the face of tragedy. — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attain
  1. achieve
  2. earn
  3. win
  4. gain
  5. reap
  6. obtain
  7. garner
  8. make
Verb
  • The American supermarket, with its endless array of products and innovations like the shopping cart and barcodes, has achieved an almost mythical status around the world.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • A bit geeky and has achieved great things in his career, but could probably walk down the street and not be recognised.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of achieve
Verb
  • Buffalo’s synthetic turf earned an F grade from Bills players in the NFLPA’s annual report card last year.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Backstage, Tommaso Ciampa says this year’s Casino Gauntlet has the biggest stakes since the winner earns a chance at the AEW World Championship.
    — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of earn
Verb
  • In the last few years, Penn State’s singular focus – to win a national championship – clouded everything else.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The club was rebuilding after the 1958 Munich air disaster but won a first post-Munich trophy, the FA Cup, earlier that year.
    — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of win
Verb
  • As the perfumery acknowledges, these collaborations allow the brand to gain exposure in other creative spheres while also creating a product that is reflective of both specialties.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
  • During last week’s earnings call, FanDuel’s parent company, Flutter, noted its prediction market platform can gain customers faster in states where sportsbooks are still under scrutiny.
    — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of gain
Verb
  • Analysts say the company is reaping the benefits of scale and backward integration.
    — Anu Raghunathan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Yet this conservative mindset has caused Japan to fall behind its peers in reaping the benefits of the AI boom.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of reap
Verb
  • Authorities said tens of millions of additional dollars were solicited before the SEC obtained a temporary restraining order against Drive Planning in August 2024.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • After obtaining racino approval from the Illinois Gaming Board in the summer of 2020, many in the racing community suggested that Carey put up a temporary facility as the Waukegan licensee, Bally’s in Chicago and others have done.
    — Neil Milbert, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of obtain
Verb
  • The men’s World Cup showed that brands do not need to spend millions of dollars on becoming an official partner to garner attention.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Lindell garnered national attention in the aftermath of the 2020 election as a prominent election denier.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of garner
Verb
  • And artists deserve a fair pay percentage for work that assists their employers in making profits.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Republicans hope to pick up four more House districts in November after the state redrew its congressional map earlier this year and made those districts more GOP-friendly.
    — Emily Chang, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of make

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attacks
attain
attainability
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Cite this Entry

“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attain. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of attain for Spanish Speakers

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