attained

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "attained" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that somebody has achieved a particular goal or objective. For example: "Joan attained her goal of becoming an accountant after many years of hard work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is not properly applicable to a player who stocks the cards or loads the dice beforehand... What he aimed at, and what he often attained, was as great a certainty in the operations of the Wall Street game as is attainable in the most legitimate lines of business.

The Economist

Within 48 hours of the trouble, this so-called commander had attained a number of goals.

The Guardian

To quote just one: "So here is a specific and valuable advance in knowledge that could only have been attained by experimentation on animals that closely resemble us; experiments which are, as far as we can tell, almost painless".

The Guardian

It has also been criticised by employers for being too crude, as it makes it hard to differentiate between students, say, who attained 60% and others who achieved 69.9%.

The Guardian

Despite the occasional attempt, he never again attained the savage, cathartic energy of the Rite nor the spectacular succès de scandale it created.

The Guardian - Music

Formerly at Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers, HFC Haarlem, Ajax, Sparta Rotterdam and RKC Waalwijk he holds an international masters in sports management, attained at the Johan Cruyff Institute.

The Guardian - Sport

He had attained his dream of having become a professional pilot after being an amateur.

The Guardian

Scientists think the frog attained so many chromosomes through hybridising with similar species over millions of years.

The Guardian

Since 1992, almost 86,000 nationalists attained voting age.

The Guardian

Raised in a working-class household in Luxembourg's industrial south, Juncker joined the centre-right Christian Social party (CSV) the year he finished school, in 1974, and attained his first ministerial post in 1982.

The Guardian

The Observer revealed last week that the increase in the nursing workforce was attained by bringing in more than a quarter of new staff from abroad.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attained" to emphasize the successful achievement of a specific goal or standard, especially after dedicated effort. For example, "She attained fluency in Spanish after a year of intensive study."

Common error

Avoid using "attained" in overly casual situations where simpler words like "got" or "reached" would be more appropriate. Using it too frequently can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "attained" is as the past tense or past participle of the verb "attain". It indicates the successful reaching of a goal, standard, or level. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "attained" serves as the past tense and past participle of "attain", signifying the successful achievement of a goal or standard. Ludwig AI affirms its correct grammatical standing and common use across diverse contexts such as News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. Related terms include "achieved", "accomplished", and "reached", each with nuanced differences. When writing, "attained" emphasizes the successful reaching of a specific goal, but its overuse in informal settings should be avoided. "Attained" is a versatile word with a solid place in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieved

Synonymous with "attained", but perhaps slightly more general in application.

accomplished

Implies a greater degree of effort or skill in reaching a goal than "attained".

reached

Focuses on arriving at a specific point or level.

gained

Suggests acquiring something, whether tangible or intangible.

obtained

Similar to gained, but can also imply receiving something passively.

secured

Emphasizes the effort to ensure possession or control.

realized

Indicates the fulfillment of a potential or plan.

fulfilled

Implies satisfying a requirement or condition.

brought about

Focuses on causing something to happen or exist.

garnered

Implies collecting or accumulating something over time, often positive.

FAQs

How to use "attained" in a sentence?

Use "attained" to describe the successful reaching of a goal or standard, like "He "attained" a high level of proficiency in his field."

What can I say instead of "attained"?

You can use alternatives like "achieved", "accomplished", or "reached" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "attained" or "achieved"?

Both "attained" and "achieved" are correct and often interchangeable. However, "attained" may suggest a more gradual or difficult process than "achieved". Consider the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "attained" and "obtained"?

"Attained" implies reaching a goal through effort, while "obtained" simply means acquiring something, possibly without significant effort. For example, you "attained" success, but "obtained" a license.