Attained

Attained is the past tense and past participle of the verb attain. It means to have succeeded in achieving or reaching something, or to have gained possession, status, or a level through effort. It is often used with goals, standards, skills, or ages: for example, “She attained her diploma,” “The team attained a new level of performance,” or “He attained the age of eighteen.” In some contexts, attained can describe the result of a process or the acquisition of prohibited or desired outcomes, but it typically emphasizes achievement rather than mere possession.

Origin and form: Attain derives from Old French atteindre, which in turn comes from Latin attingere, meaning “to touch toward” or “to reach” (from ad- “toward” + tangere “to touch”). The form attained reflects its status as a finite verb and a participle used in perfect tenses or as an adjective.

Usage notes: Attain is more common in formal or written contexts and often conveys effort, progress, or success. It contrasts with obtain, which more narrowly implies acquiring something tangible, while attain emphasizes reaching a goal or level. The participle attained can function as a verb in compound tenses or as an adjective phrase, as in “attained proficiency” or “attained results.”

Related terms: attainment (the noun form referring to the act of attaining or the level reached), attainable (capable of being attained), attaining (present participle).

See also: achievement, realization, proficiency, milestone.