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
Over the years, Brewer, as a pro athlete with endorsements, witnessed the transactions involving local Somali immigrants who were attaining wealth.
—
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
That figure marks a significant drop from a recent peak attained in 2023, but borrowing costs remain well above a 0% rate established at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
Many truckers argue that CDLs are often too easy for non-citizens to attain, and that a lack of ELP enforcement poses safety risks on the road.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Jan. 2026
To that end, Shaq is throwing in a new car as an incentive for Wilmore to focus on attaining his goal.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attain
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Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
That figure marks a significant drop from a recent peak attained in 2023, but borrowing costs remain well above a 0% rate established at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
Many truckers argue that CDLs are often too easy for non-citizens to attain, and that a lack of ELP enforcement poses safety risks on the road.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Jan. 2026
To that end, Shaq is throwing in a new car as an incentive for Wilmore to focus on attaining his goal.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for attain
Cite this Entry
“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attain. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
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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