Attain — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈtān/ at·tain

Meaning & Definition of Attain

Attain (verb)

  1. to reach as an end, gain, achieve
  2. to come into possession of, obtain
  3. to come to as the end of a progression or course of movement

Attain (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to obtain (as a goal) through effort

    "Napoléon had attained mastery of much of Europe at that point"

    similar: achieve, bag, chalk up, clock (up) (chiefly British), gain, hit, log, make, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score, win
    related: acquire, capture, carry, draw, garner, get, land, obtain, procure, realize, secure, amount (to), approach, equal, match, measure up (to), meet, rival, tie, touch, beat, excel, outdo, surpass, top
    near: fall short (of), miss, fail (at), lose

  2. to receive as return for effort

    "with hard work she will inevitably attain success in her chosen profession"

    similar: acquire, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win
    related: clear, gross, net, accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake
    opposite: forfeit, lose
    near: accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Attain

The most common words with a similar meaning to Attain:

Chiefly British: clock (up)
achieve, bag, chalk up, gain, hit, log, make, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score, win, acquire, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, garner, get, knock down, land, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Attain

Words with the opposite meaning of Attain:

forfeit, lose

Related Words for Attain

amount (to), approach, equal, match, measure up (to), meet, rival, tie, touch, beat, excel, outdo, surpass, top, clear, gross, net, accomplish, accumulate, amass, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake

Near Antonyms of Attain

fall short (of), miss, fail (at), accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

Word Forms of Attain

Inflections: attained, attaining, attains

Derived words: attainability (noun), attainable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Attain

Middle English atteynen, from Anglo-French ateign-, stem of ateindre to reach, accomplish, convict, from Vulgar Latin *attangere, alteration of Latin attingere, from ad- + tangere to touch tangent:2

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Attain

Frequently Asked Questions about Attain

What does "Attain" mean?

"Attain" means to reach as an end, gain, achieve. As a verb, it is defined as: to reach as an end, gain, achieve. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Attain"?

Other words for "Attain" include achieve, bag, chalk up, clock (up), gain, hit, log and make. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Attain" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Attain"?

There are 60 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Attain". Common alternatives include achieve, bag, chalk up, clock (up), gain, hit, log, make, notch (up) and rack up.

What is the opposite of "Attain"?

Antonyms of "Attain" include forfeit and lose. Near antonyms include fall short (of), miss, fail (at) and accord.

How do you use "Attain" in a sentence?

Examples of "Attain" in a sentence: "Napoléon had attained mastery of much of Europe at that point"; "with hard work she will inevitably attain success in her chosen profession".

Is "Attain" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Attain" is a verb.

Is "Attain" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Attain" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Attain"?

"Attain" is pronounced /ə-ˈtān/ and divided into syllables as at·tain.