ATTAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does attain mean? 

• ATTAIN (verb)
  The verb ATTAIN has 4 senses:

1. to gain with effort

2. reach a point in time, or a certain state or level

3. find unexpectedly

4. reach a destination, either real or abstract

  Familiarity information: ATTAIN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ATTAIN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they attain    ... he / she / it attains   
Past simple: attained   
Past participle: attained   
-ing form: attaining   

Sense 1

Meaning:

To gain with effort

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

accomplish; achieve; attain; reach

Context example:

she achieved her goal despite setbacks

Hypernyms (to "attain" is one way to...):

bring home the bacon; come through; deliver the goods; succeed; win (attain success or reach a desired goal)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "attain"):

score (get a certain number or letter indicating quality or performance)

get to; make; progress to; reach (reach a goal)

begin (achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative)

come to; strike (attain)

culminate (reach the highest or most decisive point)

compass (bring about; accomplish)

average (achieve or reach on average)

finagle; manage; wangle (achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

attainable (capable of being attained or accomplished)

attainment (the act of achieving an aim)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reach a point in time, or a certain state or level

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

attain; hit; reach

Context example:

This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour

Hypernyms (to "attain" is one way to...):

arrive; come; get (reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "attain"):

break even (attain a level at which there is neither gain nor loss, as in business, gambling, or a competitive sport)

max out (reach a maximum)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

attainment (arrival at a new stage)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Find unexpectedly

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

attain; chance on; chance upon; come across; come upon; discover; fall upon; happen upon; light upon; strike

Context example:

The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake

Hypernyms (to "attain" is one way to...):

find; regain (come upon after searching; find the location of something that was missed or lost)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Reach a destination, either real or abstract

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

arrive at; attain; gain; hit; make; reach

Context example:

I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts

"Attain" entails doing...:

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Verb group:

make (reach in time)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "attain"):

culminate (reach the highest altitude or the meridian, of a celestial body)

ground; run aground (hit or reach the ground)

come through; get through (succeed in reaching a real or abstract destination after overcoming problems)

find (succeed in reaching; arrive at)

make (reach in time)

top (reach or ascend the top of)

breast; summit (reach the summit (of a mountain))

peak; top out (to reach the highest point; attain maximum intensity, activity)

bottom out (reach the low point)

access; get at (reach or gain access to)

scale; surmount (reach the highest point of)

catch up (reach the point where one should be after a delay)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They attain the water

Derivation:

attainment (arrival at a new stage)

 Context examples 

And then, becoming aware of the heights of exquisite sensibility he attained, he decided that this was love and that love was the greatest thing in the world.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable).

(Aim, NCI Thesaurus)

You seem to have a lot happening behind closed doors, and it appears that your activities center on attaining a new position or creating a product launch.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

So, gentlemen, said he, you have attained your end and have certainly chosen a particularly delicate moment for your intrusion.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was struggling for the appearance of composure, and would not open his lips till he believed himself to have attained it.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

"It is known that his father was a mighty hunter. May not his father hunt with him so that he may attain excellence and patience and understanding? Who knows?"

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Is it possible that even now, when I give you these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

White tea, Green, oolong and black tea are all harvested from this species, but are processed to attain different levels of oxidation.

(Camellia sinensis, NCI Thesaurus)

Attaining optimal metabolic control may include treatment and monitoring of acute and chronic complications.

(Diabetes Management Nurse Specialist, NCI Thesaurus)

How colorless by contrast appeared the sinlessness which came from inability to sin, the conquest which was attained by flying from the enemy!

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)