Attain Definition

ə-tān

attained, attaining, attains

verb

attained, attaining, attains

To gain as an objective; achieve.

Attain a diploma by hard work.

American Heritage

To gain through effort; accomplish; achieve.

Webster's New World

To succeed in reaching or coming (to a goal)

Webster's New World

To come to or arrive at, as through movement, growth, or the passage of time.

Redwoods can attain a height of 300 feet.

American Heritage

To reach or come to; arrive at.

He attained the age of ninety.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Attain

Middle English atteinen from Old French ataindre ataign- to reach to from Vulgar Latin attangere from Latin attingere ad- ad- tangere to touch tag- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Anglo-Norman ataindre, from Old French, from Latin attingō.

From Wiktionary