Attain

/əˈteɪn/ · verb

Meaning

To come to or reach (a place) by motion or progression..

Definitions by Sense

1. To come to or reach (a place) by motion or progression.
2. To arrive at (a certain age or time, condition or state, etc.); to reach.
3. To gain (a desired result or other objective) through effort; to accomplish, to achieve.
4. To gain possession of (something tangible or intangible) through effort; to acquire, to obtain.
5. To reach (someone) after being behind them.
6. To find out (information, knowledge, etc.); to ascertain, to get at.
7. (intransitive) Often followed by to.
8. Often followed by to.

Example Sentences

Canaan he novv attains, I ſee his Tents / Pitcht about Sechem, and the neighbouring Plaine / Of Moreh; […]

Now had they almost attained / The palace portal.

We have already reached a very high latitude; but it is the height of summer, and although not so warm as in England, the southern gales, which blow us speedily towards those shores which I so ardently desire to attain, breathe a degree of renovating warmth which I had not expected.

Night hangs vpon mine eyes, my Bones vvould reſt, / That have but labour'd, to attaine this houre.

It has also been aſſerted, by ſome naturaliſts, that men do not attain their full grovvth and ſtrength till thirty; but that vvomen arrive at maturity by tvventy.

Now, it is no very easy matter for anybody—except those who are almost hourly used to it, like whalemen—to clamber up a ship's side from a boat on the open sea; […] So, deprived of one leg, and the strange ship of course being altogether unsupplied with the kindly invention, Ahab now found himself abjectly reduced to a clumsy landsman again; hopelessly eyeing the uncertain changeful height he could hardly hope to attain.

To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice each day.

Roſse [William de Ros, 6th Baron Ros]. Your preſence makes Vs rich, moſt noble Lord. / VVil. [William Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby de Eresby]. And far ſurmounts our labour to attaine it.

Synonyms for attain

Antonyms for attain

Related Words

Word Forms

• attains
• attaining
• attained
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• attain
• attainest
• attainedst
• attaineth
• -

Usage Notes

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