1
as in to achieve
to obtain (as a goal) through effort
Napoléon had attained mastery of much of Europe at that point
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to earn
to receive as return for effort
with hard work she will inevitably attain success in her chosen profession
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attain
Rockwell painted a country that believed its high principles could be attained.
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Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
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
The ultimate goal for the team is to win Stanley Cups, which Florida has done each of the past two years, but there’s always more that can be attained for the growth of the sport in the area.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 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
See All Example Sentences for attain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attain
Verb
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Though designers will still prioritize efficiency, the triangle might not always be the default layout to achieve what a homeowner wants.—
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In theory, this engine could achieve escape velocity from the Solar System, but would also produce considerable heat and radiation that would need to be safely contained.—
Verb
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Bregman played his first nine seasons with the Houston Astros, winning World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 — although the first of those yielded a sign-stealing scandal that earned Bregman and his teammates plenty of scorn.—
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After doing some work onstage, the actor and comedian finally began appearing on-screen in the 1970s, earning small roles in TV shows like Police Woman, The Waltons and The Jeffersons.—
Verb
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The Bruins won for the fifth time in six games despite going 0 for 6 on the power play a day after beating the Rangers 10-2.—
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Though the Heat is returning home for three games, Miami won’t be heavily favored to win any of them.—
Verb
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If Enceladus doesn’t gain enough energy, its surface activity would slow down or stop, and the ocean could eventually freeze.—
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A week after a 27-10 road win at Syracuse, North Carolina turned in a dreadful first half against Stanford (3-7, 2-5 ACC), gaining only 47 total yards on its way to a 3-3 halftime tie.—
Verb
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The lone exceptions have been health care – an industry growing as a result of an aging population – and leisure and hospitality, which has reaped some of the spoils from an increasingly bifurcated economy.—
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Sol de Janeiro’s body lotion comes with a convenient pump that quickly dispenses the lotion so my skin can reap the benefits of the formula.—
Verb
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Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital revealed allegations made by the staffer’s attorney, Heidi Sharp, on the day Moore allegedly entered the staffer's home without permission, which later resulted in his arrest.—
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As a result, the couple obtained more than $450,000.—
Verb
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The film garnered significant critical attention, receiving a nine-minute standing ovation on the Lido and later going on to win the inaugural International People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival.—
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When the work is done and enters the world, there’s a decent chance that the reporting garners relatively little attention.—
Verb
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The president said Thursday that the two mortgage giants under government conservatorship, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have $200 billion in cash that will be used to make the mortgage bond purchases.—
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Ball certainly didn’t have any issue getting into the action, posting a team-best 11 first-quarter points on the strength of making his first three attempts and banking in a running 3-pointer off the glass at the buzzer, signaling the conclusion of the game’s initial 12 minutes.—
Cite this Entry
“Attain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attain. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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