attains

Attains is the third-person singular present form of the verb attain. It means to succeed in achieving something after effort; to reach a goal, level, or state; or to acquire something through effort.

As a transitive verb, attain requires a direct object: what is reached or achieved. Examples: "She attains her goals through disciplined study"; "The athlete attains a new personal best"; "The company attains market leadership after a year of growth." The phrase "attain to" is archaic or literary in modern English and is generally avoided in favor of direct object usage.

Etymology: Attain derives from Old French atteindre, from Latin attingere "to touch, reach." The form parallels attain from the same root, with both emphasizing reaching a target in a figurative sense.

Related forms: attain (base form), attainment (noun for the act or result of attaining), attainable (adjective), attaining (present participle), attained (past participle), attainments (plural noun). Common collocations include attain success, attain a goal, attain a certain level, attain adulthood, and attain the summit.

Usage notes: Attains tends to be used for humans or organizations achieving something through effort; it is less common for inanimate objects. In many contexts, synonyms such as achieve, reach, accomplish, or secure may be used, depending on nuance.