attain

CEFR: C1-C2 /at-tain/ [ah0.t.ey1.n]

Attain and obtain are two different words that are often confused with each other by writers but both have their own distinct meanings.

Attain is a verb that means to accomplish, reach, or achieve something through effort. You can attain a goal that you set for yourself or attain a high-ranking position at your job. For example,

Example Sentences:

After six months, I attained my goal of losing 15 pounds.

Joe worked so hard he attained the position of Vice President.

My parents were able to attain the American Dream and so was I.

Obtain is also a verb, but it means to get, to acquire, or to gain possession of something. For example,

Example Sentences:

I obtained the latest copy of The Wall Street Journal.

While attain implies there was some effort put forth to produce an outcome, that is not necessarily the case with "obtain". For example,

Example Sentences:

In college, you work hard to attain a degree.

-but-

Example Sentences:

Once you graduate you will obtain your diploma.

This is a very subtle difference, but it is important to recognize it. In this example, you are working hard to attain your academic degree, but you physically obtain and take ownership of the piece of paper that is your diploma once you graduate.