From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishattainat‧tain /əˈteɪn/ ●○○ AWL verb [transitive] formal 1 REACHGETto succeed in achieving something after trying for a long time More women are attaining positions of power.2 REACHto reach a particular level, age, size etc Share prices attained a high of $3.27. After a year she had attained her ideal weight. —attainable adjective This target should be attainable.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
attain• When migrating, birds may attain a height of three thousand metres or more.• She mounted the bike and wobbled precariously for several yards before attaining a kind of equilibrium along Small's Wynd and disappearing.• The balloonists attained an altitude of 33,000 feet.• India attained independence in 1947.• Howard attracted many gifted people who have subsequently attained leadership roles in the Salvation Army.• I would tell them that they could attain levels of quality and customer satisfaction greater than they had ever imagined.• Often, in fact, Gandhi was more interested in improving the human means than in attaining political ends.• Together with this person, you can attain results far more spectacular than either of you could achieve alone.• The latest model is capable of attaining speeds in excess of 300 kph.• Jean Arthur worked for a decade before attaining stardom.• When Maine attained statehood in 1820, much of the interior was unsettled.• Supervisors encourage you to set goals that stretch you but are achievable, and then reward you for attaining them.Origin attain (1200-1300) Old French ataindre, from Latin attingere, from ad- “to” + tangere “to touch” 