Skip to content
APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

attain

/əˈteɪn/

Press play to hear how to pronounce attain.

American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
Watch on YouTube ↗

What does attain mean?

verb

  1. To come to or reach (a place) by motion or progression.
  2. (figuratively) To arrive at (a certain age or time, condition or state, etc.); to reach.
  3. (figuratively) To gain (a desired result or other objective) through effort; to accomplish, to achieve.
More meanings (14)

verb

  1. (figuratively) To arrive at a certain condition or state, etc.
  2. (figuratively) To gain possession of something tangible or intangible through effort.
  3. (archaic, figuratively) To gain possession of (something tangible or intangible) through effort; to acquire, to obtain.
  4. (obsolete) To reach (someone) after being behind them.
  5. (figuratively, obsolete) To find out (information, knowledge, etc.); to ascertain, to get at.
  6. (archaic) To come to or reach a place by motion or progression; to reach.
  7. (obsolete) To come to or reach a position without moving from one place to another.
  8. (obsolete) To extend or reach from one position to another; to stretch.
  9. (figuratively, obsolete) To find out information, knowledge, etc.
  10. (figuratively, obsolete) To gain a desired result or other objective through effort.
  11. (figuratively, obsolete) Of a person: to live to a certain age or time.
  12. (figuratively, obsolete) Of a thing: to befall, to happen to someone.

noun

  1. (archaic) An act of arriving at or reaching; an act of obtaining by effort.
  2. (archaic) That which is obtained by effort.
Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/əˈteɪn/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

In its motion the earth’s satellite was insensibly nearing the zenith, the mathematical point which it ought to attain ninety-six hours later.
Jules VerneFrom the Earth to the moon; and, round the moonProject Gutenberg ebook #83
They were the personal representatives of a state most blessed to attain—the titled ambassadors of comfort and peace, aglow with their credentials.
Theodore DreiserSister Carrie: A NovelProject Gutenberg ebook #233
More book examples (3)
He began to have a dim feeling that, to attain his place in the world, he must be himself, and not another.
W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt) Du BoisThe Souls of Black FolkProject Gutenberg ebook #408
It is not by such methods that the workingmen will attain to wealth and--what is a thousand times more precious than wealth--liberty.
P.-J. (Pierre-Joseph) ProudhonSystem of Economical Contradictions; Or, The Philosophy of MiseryProject Gutenberg ebook #444
His services had raised him to the proudest height which it was possible for a man, by his own efforts, to attain.
Friedrich SchillerThe History of the Thirty Years' WarTranslated by A. J. W. (Alexander James William) MorrisonProject Gutenberg ebook #566