attain equilibrium

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'attain equilibrium' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which two or more forces balance each other out. For example, "The government was eventually able to attain equilibrium between the interests of the business sector and the environmental lobby."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Reaction pathways to attain equilibrium were in good correlation with pseudo second order rate kinetics.

Chemical Engineering Journal

During nighttime Te, Ti and Tn attain equilibrium with each other, but plasma cools faster than neutrals.

Advances in Space Research

The majority of people, he wrote, "will never attain equilibrium and . . . are by nature captious, fretful, irritable, uncomfortable, looking for relief from their travail and angry that it does not come".

The New Yorker

To attain equilibrium, vast broken slabs of rock larger than a parish slid away from the centre of the forces at a low angle, like the twisted thorn branches leaning away from the reach of the sea wind.

The Guardian - Books

In a batch study, maximum fluoride removal was achieved within the pH range 5.0 7.0, taking about 2 h to attain equilibrium.

Desalination

On the contrary, tectonically active mountain ranges might not attain equilibrium on similar timescales in weathering and/or transport limited landscapes as, for example, in arid regions.

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

The adsorption process attained equilibrium only in 120 min.

Carbohydrate Polymers

In the 1G sample, the growth was delayed because of the presence of convection, which hinders the solution from attaining equilibrium.

Nature

Barone believed he had solved the problems of attaining equilibrium, at least in principle, by introducing the concept of a trial-and-error process to achieve fair prices.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the process of attaining equilibrium, there is a gross heat flow through the body, which depends upon the temperature difference between different points in the body and upon the magnitudes of the temperatures involved.

Britannica

Despite the prolonged heat treatment– the studied alloy did not attained equilibrium and contained many intermetallic phases along with the phase of an interest.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process moving towards stability, use "attain equilibrium" to emphasize the successful arrival at a balanced state.

Common error

Avoid using "attain equilibrium" when you actually mean to describe the process of keeping something in balance. "Attain" refers to the reaching of equilibrium, not the sustaining of it. For ongoing balance, use "maintain equilibrium" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attain equilibrium" functions as a verb phrase, often used to describe the action of reaching a state of balance or stability within a system. Ludwig indicates its correct usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

88%

News & Media

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attain equilibrium" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, particularly within scientific and technical domains. As confirmed by Ludwig, it accurately describes the process of reaching a balanced state. While synonyms like ""reach equilibrium"" exist, "attain" emphasizes the successful arrival at this state. Remember to differentiate attaining equilibrium (reaching the balance) from maintaining equilibrium (sustaining it). The high frequency of examples, especially from authoritative scientific sources, underscores its importance and validity in formal English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reach equilibrium

Replaces "attain" with "reach", a more common synonym, slightly altering the emphasis.

find equilibrium

Emphasizes the discovery aspect of reaching balance.

come to equilibrium

Uses "come to" instead of "attain", suggesting a process leading to balance.

achieve a state of equilibrium

Adds "a state of" for increased clarity and formality, broadening the phrase.

establish equilibrium

Substitutes "attain" with "establish", focusing on setting up the balance.

settle into equilibrium

Adds "settle into", implying a gradual process of achieving balance.

find balance

A more concise and less formal alternative, replacing "equilibrium" with "balance".

balance out

An informal phrasal verb indicating the process of achieving equilibrium.

stabilize

A shorter, more direct verb conveying the idea of reaching stability.

equalize

Focuses on the act of making things equal, a key aspect of equilibrium.

FAQs

How can I use "attain equilibrium" in a sentence?

You can use "attain equilibrium" to describe systems or processes reaching a state of balance. For example, "The chemical reaction needed two hours to "reach equilibrium"", or "The economy struggled to "find stability" and "stabilize" after the recession, making it hard to "attain equilibrium".

What is a synonym for "attain equilibrium"?

Synonyms for "attain equilibrium" include ""reach equilibrium"", "achieve a state of equilibrium", or "establish equilibrium". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "attain equilibrium" or "achieve equilibrium"?

Both "attain equilibrium" and "achieve equilibrium" are grammatically correct and semantically similar. "Achieve" may be more common in general usage, but "attain" can emphasize the successful arrival at the balanced state. Both are acceptable, and the choice often comes down to stylistic preference.

What does it mean for a system to "attain equilibrium"?

For a system to "attain equilibrium" means it has reached a state where opposing forces or influences are balanced, resulting in a stable condition. This balance can apply to various contexts, such as chemical reactions, economic models, or physical systems needing to "find balance".