attain

[əˈteɪn]

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attaining - attain

An attainable goal is one that can be reached or achieved with hard work and determination.

When we say something is attainable, it means it's not completely impossible to get there. Think about setting a new year's resolution to run a marathon - if you're someone who never runs at all, running 26 miles might sound crazy! But if you start training slowly, you can make progress and work your way up. With patience and effort, even something like that becomes attainable. It doesn't mean it'll be easy or happen overnight, but you have a clear path to follow. In general, people use the word "attain" when they're talking about achieving goals or accomplishments in life - whether big or small.

How common is "attain"?

Word attain is considered uncommon in modern English.
It appears most frequently in academic texts and less often in other writings.

Definitions

verb

To gain (an object or desired result).
Example: To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice each day.
To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at (a place, time, state, etc.).
To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.
To get at the knowledge of.
To reach in excellence or degree.
To reach a person after being behind them.

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accomplishachievegetascertaincatch up with

Real examples of "attaining" in context

Can a Ping-Pong Ball Really Be Deadly? | MythBusters | Discovery

Entertainment

So it's not attaining enough speed or momentum to bust out.

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attain

How common is "attain"?

verb

Real examples of "attaining" in context

Can a Ping-Pong Ball Really Be Deadly? | MythBusters | Discovery

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