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attain

Attain is all about reaching some mark of achievement—you can attain a destination. You can attain your goal. If you win over and over at the blackjack tables, you might attain a reputation for success.

Attain derives in part from the Latin tangere "to touch," which is also at the root of retain "to keep," obtain "to get," contain "to control." One might obtain the discipline to contain one's emotions while studying, thereby attaining control and retaining more information.

DEFINITIONS OF: attain

v to gain with effort

Synonyms:: accomplish, achieve, reach

Types:: show 9 types...; hide 9 types...; score
get a certain number or letter indicating quality or performance; get to, make, progress to, reach
reach a goal, e.g., "make the first team"; begin
achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative; come to, strike
attain; culminate
reach the highest or most decisive point; compass
bring about; accomplish; average
achieve or reach on average; finagle, manage, wangle
achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods; test
achieve a certain score or rating on a test

Type of:: bring home the bacon, come through, deliver the goods, succeed, win
attain success or reach a desired goal

v reach a point in time, or a certain state or level

Synonyms:: hit, reach

Types:: max out
reach a maximum; break even
attain a level at which there is neither gain nor loss, as in business, gambling, or a competitive sport

Type of:: arrive, come, get
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

v reach a destination, either real or abstract

Synonyms:: arrive at, gain, hit, make, reach

: make
reach in time

Types:: show 14 types...; hide 14 types...; catch up
reach the point where one should be after a delay; scale, surmount
reach the highest point of; access, get at
reach or gain access to; bottom out
reach the low point; peak, top out
to reach the highest point; attain maximum intensity, activity; breast, summit
reach the summit (of a mountain); top
reach or ascend the top of; make
reach in time; find
succeed in reaching; arrive at; culminate
reach the highest altitude or the meridian, of a celestial body; come through, get through
succeed in reaching a real or abstract destination after overcoming problems; ground, run aground
hit or reach the ground; come back
even the score, in sports; crest
reach a high point

v find unexpectedly

Synonyms:: chance on, chance upon, come across, come upon, discover, fall upon, happen upon, light upon, strike

Type of:: find, regain
come upon after searching; find the location of something that was missed or lost

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