Explanation at your level:
At this level, think of attain as a fancy way to say 'get' or 'reach.' If you study hard, you can attain your goal of speaking English well. It is a word for when you work hard to get something special.
You use attain when you talk about reaching a level. For example, 'She wants to attain a high score on her English test.' It sounds very professional and shows you are working hard on your goals.
At the intermediate level, you will see attain used with abstract nouns like 'success' or 'knowledge.' It implies that the result was not easy to get. You might say, 'It took years to attain the skills needed for this job.'
Attain is a great alternative to 'achieve' or 'reach' in formal writing. It carries a sense of long-term commitment. Use it when discussing career milestones or academic standards to add a layer of sophistication to your essays or presentations.
In advanced English, attain is often used to discuss states of being or complex standards. You might talk about attaining a state of equilibrium or attaining a level of maturity. It is a precise verb that highlights the process of overcoming obstacles to reach a desired end state.
At the mastery level, attain is used to describe the culmination of human effort. It appears in literary and academic texts to denote the realization of potential. Its etymological roots in 'touching' are sometimes invoked in poetic contexts to describe the moment one finally 'touches' or realizes a lifelong ambition that once seemed out of reach.
30초 단어
- Attain means to reach a goal or status.
- It usually requires significant effort.
- It is a formal, professional word.
- Never use 'attain to'.
When you attain something, you are crossing a finish line you have been running toward for a long time. It is not just about getting a prize; it is about the effort you put in to get there.
Think of it as the reward for your persistence. Whether it is a high score on a test, a promotion at work, or reaching a certain age, attaining implies that you had to work for it. It is a bit more formal than the word 'get' or 'reach,' which makes it sound like a real accomplishment.
The word attain has a long journey through history. It comes from the Old French word ataindre, which means 'to reach' or 'to strike.' If you go back even further, it traces back to the Latin word attingere, which is a combination of ad- (to) and tangere (to touch).
So, originally, it literally meant 'to touch' or 'to make contact with.' Over time, the meaning shifted from just touching something to actually grasping it or achieving a goal. It is fascinating how a word that once meant a simple physical touch evolved into a word describing the grand achievement of our life goals!
You will mostly hear attain in professional, academic, or formal settings. It is the perfect word for resumes, business reports, or serious discussions about personal growth.
Common phrases include attaining a goal, attaining a level of proficiency, or attaining success. Because it sounds quite formal, you probably wouldn't use it to say 'I attained a sandwich'—that would sound very strange! Stick to using it for big achievements or milestones.
While 'attain' itself isn't the star of many idioms, it is often associated with phrases about success:
- Reach the summit: To attain the highest point of success.
- Hit the mark: To attain the desired result.
- Make the grade: To attain the standard required.
- Go the distance: To put in the effort to attain a final goal.
- Scale the heights: To attain a very high level of achievement.
Attain is a regular verb. Its past tense and past participle form is attained, and its present participle is attaining. It is almost always used as a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object (e.g., 'attain success').
The pronunciation is /əˈteɪn/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like maintain, explain, detain, restrain, and sustain. It is a great word to practice if you want to sound more precise and professional in your English speaking.
Fun Fact
It once meant 'to strike' or 'to touch' before it meant 'to achieve'.
Pronunciation Guide
uh-TANE
uh-TANE
Common Errors
- pronouncing the 'a' as 'ah'
- stressing the first syllable
- swallowing the 't' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to understand in context.
Requires formal context.
Sounds formal.
Clear pronunciation.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
He attained the goal.
Regular Verb Conjugation
attain/attained/attained
Formal Register
Using attain instead of get
Examples by Level
I want to attain my goal.
I want to reach my goal.
Verb + noun object.
They worked hard to attain success.
He hopes to attain a high level.
We can attain our dreams together.
She attained the top position.
The team attained their target.
Students strive to attain knowledge.
It is hard to attain perfection.
They attained the age of eighteen.
The company attained its sales target.
She has attained a great reputation.
He attained a high level of fluency.
It is difficult to attain such results.
They attained the goal after years.
He attained a position of power.
The group attained a new standard.
She attained her degree last year.
He attained a level of expertise in law.
The project attained significant success.
They have attained a balance in life.
She attained the rank of captain.
It is a goal that is hard to attain.
The artist attained fame late in life.
They attained a consensus on the issue.
He attained his ambition through grit.
The candidate attained a high degree of respect.
The state has attained a level of stability.
She attained a sense of inner peace.
They attained the zenith of their careers.
The research attained global recognition.
He attained a mastery of the subject.
The city attained a status of importance.
They attained their objectives despite odds.
The scholar attained an unparalleled depth of insight.
He attained a state of spiritual enlightenment.
The empire attained its greatest extent.
She attained the pinnacle of her profession.
They attained a level of sophistication rarely seen.
The athlete attained a personal best record.
He attained a profound understanding of life.
The movement attained widespread cultural influence.
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"reach for the stars"
to try to attain very high goals
Don't be afraid to reach for the stars.
casual"the sky is the limit"
there is no limit to what you can attain
With your talent, the sky is the limit.
casual"hit the jackpot"
to attain sudden success
He really hit the jackpot with that idea.
casual"make the cut"
to attain the necessary standard
She didn't quite make the cut for the team.
casual"climb the ladder"
to attain higher positions in a career
He is slowly climbing the corporate ladder.
casualEasily Confused
similar sound and meaning
obtain is for objects, attain for abstract goals
He obtained a permit; he attained a goal.
spelling similarity
attaint is a legal term, attain is a common verb
The law was attainted.
spelling
legal concept of loss of rights
A bill of attainder.
synonym
achieve is slightly more common in daily speech
He achieved/attained his goal.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + attain + [noun]
She attained her degree.
Subject + attain + [age]
He attained the age of 50.
Subject + attain + [status]
They attained legal status.
Subject + attain + [proficiency]
He attained fluency.
Subject + attain + [result]
We attained the desired result.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
Attain is transitive; it doesn't need 'to'.
Attain is for goals, not physical objects.
Attainted is a different word (legal).
Do not add unnecessary prepositions.
Again, no preposition needed.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a goal on a high shelf; you must climb to attain it.
Professionalism
Use 'attain' in your cover letters instead of 'get'.
Achievement Culture
Western culture values 'attaining' goals highly.
No Prepositions
Never say 'attain to'. Just 'attain'.
Stress the Second
Make sure to emphasize the 'TANE' part.
Avoid Objects
Don't use it for simple things like food.
Latin Roots
It comes from 'to touch'.
Contextualize
Write sentences about your own career goals.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-T-T-A-I-N: Always Try To Achieve Important Needs.
Visual Association
A mountain climber reaching the peak.
Word Web
챌린지
Write three goals you want to attain this year.
어원
Latin
Original meaning: to touch
문화적 맥락
None.
Used often in corporate and academic settings to sound professional.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- attain a target
- attain a promotion
- attain a KPI
at school
- attain a grade
- attain a degree
- attain a qualification
personal growth
- attain inner peace
- attain maturity
- attain a dream
legal/formal
- attain legal status
- attain majority
- attain an agreement
Conversation Starters
"What is a major goal you hope to attain this year?"
"Do you think it is easier to attain success today than in the past?"
"What level of proficiency do you hope to attain in English?"
"Is it important to attain a high status in your career?"
"What is the hardest thing you have ever attained?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you attained a goal you worked hard for.
What does 'attaining success' mean to you personally?
Write about a skill you are currently trying to attain.
If you could attain any status, what would it be and why?
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문Attain is more formal and implies effort.
No, use 'get' or 'acquire' for objects.
Yes, attained/attaining.
Attainment.
Subject + attain + goal.
It is more common in writing.
No, that is incorrect.
Yes, usually associated with success.
셀프 테스트
I want to ___ my goal.
Attain means to reach a goal.
Which means to reach a goal?
Attain is the correct synonym.
Attain is a synonym for 'fail'.
Attain means to succeed, not fail.
Word
뜻
They are synonyms.
He attained great success.
점수: /5
Summary
Attain is the verb you use when you have worked hard to finally reach a meaningful goal.
- Attain means to reach a goal or status.
- It usually requires significant effort.
- It is a formal, professional word.
- Never use 'attain to'.
Memory Palace
Imagine a goal on a high shelf; you must climb to attain it.
Professionalism
Use 'attain' in your cover letters instead of 'get'.
Achievement Culture
Western culture values 'attaining' goals highly.
No Prepositions
Never say 'attain to'. Just 'attain'.
예시
After years of training, he finally managed to attain his black belt.
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