What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
achieve
Example
She achieved her dream of becoming a doctor. [achieved: past tense]
Example
The team worked hard to achieve their sales target. [achieve: verb]
attain
Example
He attained the position of CEO after years of hard work. [attained: past tense]
Example
The company aims to attain a higher level of customer satisfaction. [attain: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Achieve is more commonly used than attain in everyday language, making it a more versatile word for various contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between achieve and attain?
Attain is considered more formal than achieve, making it more suitable for professional or academic writing.