How do you use the word "attain" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "attain": I have to attain my purpose at all costs. That aim is impossible to attain.

Attain Meaning

/əˈteɪn/

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbTo gain (an object or desired result).

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

Sentence Examples

I have to attain my purpose at all costs.

That aim is impossible to attain.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

hit reach achieve

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

She worked hard to ____ her dream of becoming a doctor.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

It takes a lot of hard work to ____ your goals in your career field.

Word Origin & History

The verb is derived from Middle English atteinen, atteynen (“to achieve, attain; to be adequate or sufficient; to affect; to come or get to (a place), reach; to corrupt, taint; to overcome, overpower; to overtake; to succeed; to tamper with; (law) to bring to justice, punish”), from ataign-, a stem of Anglo-Norman ataindre, and Old French ataindre, attaindre (“to reach”) (modern French atteindre), from Vulgar Latin *attangere, from Latin attingere, the present active infinitive of attingō (“to come into contact with, touch; to affect; to arrive at, reach; etc.”), from ad- (prefix indicating a nearing or reaching) (appearing as at- due to assimilation with the following t, inducing gemination) + tangō (“to grasp, touch; to arrive at, reach; to attain; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g- (“to grasp; to touch”)). Doublet of attainder and attinge. The noun is derived from the verb.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Canaan he novv attains, I ſee his Tents / Pitcht about Sechem, and the neighbouring Plaine / Of Moreh; […]" — 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature Ss2, verso, lines 1026–1028:

"Now had they almost attained / The palace portal." — 1805, Robert Southey, “Canto I”, in Madoc, London: […] [F]or Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, and A[rchibald] Constable and Co, […], by James Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, part I (Madoc in Wales), page 7:

"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." — 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], “Letter III”, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume I, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 19:

"Night hangs vpon mine eyes, my Bones vvould reſt, / That have but labour'd, to attaine this houre." — 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v], page 130, column 1:

"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." — 1791 (date written), Mary Wollstonecraft, “Observations on the State of Degradation to which Woman is Reduced by Various Causes”, in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1792, →OCLC, page 150:

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