Definition

1. Verb:
   • To succeed in achieving something after effort: To reach or accomplish a goal, objective, or desired state, often implying a significant or challenging effort.
   • To reach or arrive at a particular condition, age, or point: To come to a specific stage, level, or point in time or development.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • She worked diligently to attain a high level of fluency in the language.
  • After years of research, the scientist attained a breakthrough discovery.
  • The company hopes to attain its sales targets by the end of the quarter.
  • He finally attained the rank of captain after a decade of service.

Advanced Usage

• "to attain to something": (More formal) To succeed in reaching or achieving a particular high standard, state, or level.
  • Few artists ever attain to such mastery of their craft.
• "attained age": (Legal/Formal) The age that has been reached.
  • Benefits are payable upon the attained age of 65.

Variants and Related Words

• Attainable (adj): Able to be achieved or accomplished.
  • The goal is challenging but attainable.
• Attainment (n): The action or fact of achieving a goal, or a thing achieved.
  • Academic attainment is important, but so are life skills.
• Unattainable (adj): Impossible to achieve or reach.
  • For many, such wealth seemed an unattainable dream.

Synonyms

• Achieve: To successfully bring about or reach a desired objective.
• Accomplish: To complete or achieve successfully.
• Reach: To arrive at or extend to a point.
• Gain: To obtain or secure something desired.

Antonyms

• Fail: To be unsuccessful in achieving a goal.
• Miss: To fail to hit, reach, or attain.
• Lose: To be deprived of or cease to have.

Related Phrases

• "attain one's ends": To achieve one's goals or purposes.
  • He was determined to attain his ends by any means necessary.
• "attain maturity": To reach a state of full development.
  • The wine needs several years to attain maturity.

Verb

1. reach a destination, either real or abstract
   • We hit Detroit by noon
   • The water reached the doorstep
   • We barely made it to the finish line
   • I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts
2. find unexpectedly
   • the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb
   • she struck a goldmine
   • The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake
3. reach a point in time, or a certain state or level
   • The thermometer hit 100 degrees
   • This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour
4. to gain with effort
   • she achieved her goal despite setbacks