attain

/ə'tein/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
attain

She worked hard to attain her goal of becoming a doctor.

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.
attain

She worked hard to attain her goal of becoming a doctor.

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