🇺🇸
/əˈteɪnd/
🇺🇸
/əˈteɪnd/
🇬🇧
/əˈteɪnd/
🇬🇧
/əˈteɪnd/
Past Tense
attained
Past Participle
attained
Gerund
attaining
3rd Person
attains
Attained is the past tense and past participle of 'attain', meaning to succeed in achieving something difficult, especially through effort, skill, or perseverance — like finally grabbing the brass ring after years of climbing. For example, when a scientist attains a breakthrough, it’s not luck; it’s the result of relentless curiosity and hard work.
After ten years of research, she attained a major medical breakthrough.
He attained fluency in Japanese by living in Tokyo for three years.
The team attained its fundraising goal two weeks ahead of schedule.
Only a few athletes have ever attained Olympic gold in both summer and winter games.
Students who attain high scores on standardized tests often receive scholarship offers.
ten
Comes from the Latin verb 'tenēre', meaning 'to hold' or 'to keep'. This root conveys the idea of holding, possessing, maintaining, or reaching a state or position. It appears in words such as attain, contain, maintain, retain, sustain, and tenacious.
ad
Comes from the Latin prefix 'ad-', meaning 'to' or 'toward'. It indicates direction, addition, or approach — suggesting movement toward a goal or endpoint. Examples include attain, adapt, adopt, adhere, and address.