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
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
Globally, fewer than 1% of adults from the poorest households attain a bachelor’s degree, compared to over 10% from affluent backgrounds.
—
Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Niebuhr believed that while the highest moral achievements could be attained only by individuals, constructive social change was possible only by working together for justice.
—Scott Paeth, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, sleeker animals such as blue whales, which can grow up to about 100 feet (30 meters) long, can attain enormous lengths while still swimming well.
—Kate Golembiewski, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
The Space Force could attain the capability for sustained maneuvers—known in some quarters as dynamic space operations—in several ways.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attain
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Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Niebuhr believed that while the highest moral achievements could be attained only by individuals, constructive social change was possible only by working together for justice.
—Scott Paeth, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, sleeker animals such as blue whales, which can grow up to about 100 feet (30 meters) long, can attain enormous lengths while still swimming well.
—Kate Golembiewski, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
The Space Force could attain the capability for sustained maneuvers—known in some quarters as dynamic space operations—in several ways.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attain
Articles Related to attain
Cite this Entry
“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attain. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
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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