attain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb to gain with effort
    accomplish; reach; achieve.
    • she achieved her goal despite setbacks
  2. verb reach a point in time, or a certain state or level
    hit; reach.
    • The thermometer hit 100 degrees
    • This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour
  3. verb find unexpectedly
    happen upon; fall upon; come upon; chance upon; discover; light upon; come across; strike; chance on.
    • the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb
    • she struck a goldmine
    • The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake
  4. verb reach a destination, either real or abstract
    hit; make; reach; arrive at; gain.
    • We hit Detroit by noon
    • The water reached the doorstep
    • We barely made it to the finish line
    • I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts

WordNet

At*tain" transitive verb
Etymology
Of. atteinen, atteignen, tainen, OF. ateindre, ataindre, F. atteindre, fr. L. attingere; ad + tangere to touch, reach. See Tangent, and cf. Attinge, Attaint.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Attained present participle & verbal noun Attaining
Definitions
  1. To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest.
    Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the means? Abp. Tillotson.
  2. To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire. Obs. with a material object. Chaucer.
  3. To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain. Obs.
    Not well attaining his meaning. Fuller.
  4. To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at. "Canaan he now attains." Milton.
  5. To overtake. Obs. Bacon.
  6. To reach in excellence or degree; to equal. Syn. -- To Attain, Obtain, Procure. Attain always implies an effort toward an object. Hence it is not synonymous with obtain and procure, which do not necessarily imply such effort or motion. We procure or obtain a thing by purchase or loan, and we obtain by inheritance, but we do not attain it by such means.
At*tain" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.
    If by any means they might attain to Phenice. Acts xxvii. 12.
    Nor nearer might the dogs attain. Sir W. Scott.
    To see your trees attain to the dignity of timber. Cowper.
    Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this. J. R. Green.
  2. To come or arrive, by an effort of mind.
    Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it. Ps. cxxxix. 6.
At*tain" noun
Definitions
  1. Attainment. Obs.

Webster 1913