attain

CEFRB2

/əˈteɪn/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To succeed in reaching or achieving something.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To arrive at (a certain age or time, condition or state, etc.); to reach.

Examples

  • I have to attain my purpose at all costs.

  • That aim is impossible to attain.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To gain (a desired result or other objective) through effort; to accomplish, to achieve.

  2. To gain (an object or desired result).

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

More examples

In context

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

  • Now had they almost attained / The palace portal.

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

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

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

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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 geminatio...