Meaning of attain
attain means "to reach or achieve something after trying hard."
attain -
Verb
to achieve, to reach
▪She attained her goal of passing the exam.
▪She achieved her goal of passing the exam.
▪He attained a high level of skill.
▪He achieved a high level of skill.
Synonyms
▪ achieve – to reach
▪ reach – to get to
▪ accomplish – to complete
▪ secure – to obtain
Native pronunciation
attain [əˈteɪn]
The verb has the stress on the second syllable "tain" and sounds like "uh-tayn."
attain
- Part of speech
Meanings of attain by part of speech
▪ Verb -
to achieve, to reach
Changes in the part of speech for attain
▪ attainment (noun) – the act of achieving something
▪ attainable (adjective) – able to be achieved
▪
▪
Common expressions of attain by part of speech
▪ attain a goal – achieve a target or objective
▪ attain success – achieve success
▪ attain a level – reach a certain level
▪ attain knowledge – achieve understanding or information
Differences between attain and similar words
Difference in attain, achieve
'attain' is often used specifically for achieving something through effort, while 'achieve' can be used more broadly for various types of success.
attain
achieve
Difference in attain, reach
'attain' means to achieve something through effort, while 'reach' can mean physically getting to a place or state.
attain
reach
attain in TOEIC
"achieve, reach a goal" - often used in business contexts to describe reaching targets, objectives, or levels of success.
TOEIC Vocabulary Grammar
In TOEIC vocabulary questions, "attain" is often used to mean "achieve" or "reach," and it appears in expressions like "attain a goal" or "attain success."
attain is a verb meaning "to reach or achieve after effort," while obtain is a verb meaning "to get or acquire," often without the implication of effort.
In TOEIC grammar questions, "attain" requires attention to objects and the context of effort or achievement.
Idioms and expressions in the TOEIC
Words sharing the same root as attain
Etymology of attain
The word 'attain' comes from Old French and means to hold or achieve something.
Word Structure
It is composed of the prefix 'at-' and the root 'tain' from Latin 'tenere' meaning to hold, so 'attain' means 'to hold onto' or 'achieve'.
Words with the same root
The root of 'attain' is 'tain' (from Latin 'ten'). Words with the same root include maintain, obtain, retain, and sustain.
