attain
/əˈteɪn/- 1.
To successfully reach or achieve something important, usually after a lot of effort or time. It often implies arriving at a goal that required sustained work.
- She studied for years to attain a place at medical school.
- The athlete trained daily to attain peak physical condition.
- Very few students attain a perfect score on this exam.
- 2.
To reach a particular level, age, or state, especially in formal or official contexts. Often used in academic writing and reports.
- The population is projected to attain 10 million by 2040.
- Children attain full language fluency faster than adults.
Adinary Nuance
Attain sits in a cluster of near-neighbors — achieve, accomplish, reach, and gain — but it has the most formal and academic feel of the group. Use attain when you want to stress arriving at a level or standard (attain fluency, attain enlightenment), not just finishing a task. Achieve is the closest rival: it's also formal but works better with concrete goals and results (achieve a target, achieve great things), while attain more naturally fits states, grades, and thresholds. Accomplish focuses on completing a specific task from start to finish, and reach is the everyday, neutral choice (reach your goal) — attain sounds stiff and out of place in casual speech but is a strong upgrade in IELTS essays and academic writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Đạt được
- Spanish
- Alcanzar
- Chinese
- 达到
- Japanese
- 達成する
- Korean
- 달성하다
Etymology
From Old French "ataindre" (to reach, touch) and Latin "attingere," combining "ad-" (to) and "tangere" (to touch). Entered English in the 14th century, and has always carried a formal, elevated tone.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'attain' and 'achieve'?
- 'Attain' is best when you reach a level, grade, or state (attain fluency, attain a rank). 'Achieve' works better with specific goals and results (achieve a target, achieve success). In practice they often overlap, but 'attain' sounds slightly more formal and academic.
- Is 'attain' formal or informal?
- 'Attain' is a formal word. It fits academic essays, IELTS writing, and official reports well. In everyday conversation, most people say 'reach' or 'get' instead.
- Can I use 'attain' in an IELTS essay?
- Yes — 'attain' is an excellent word for IELTS Task 2 essays. Phrases like 'attain a high level of education' or 'attain economic stability' show a strong academic vocabulary.
- What is the noun form of 'attain'?
- The noun form is 'attainment.' For example: 'Educational attainment is linked to higher income.' It is also commonly used in formal writing and reports.