What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
acquire
Example
I acquired a new car last week. [acquired: past tense]
Example
She acquired a lot of knowledge during her time in college. [acquired: verb]
Example
He finally acquired the rare book he had been searching for. [acquired: past participle]
attain
Example
She attained her dream of becoming a doctor. [attained: past tense]
Example
He worked hard to attain a high level of proficiency in his field. [attain: verb]
Example
They hope to attain financial stability through their business. [attain: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Acquire is more commonly used than attain in everyday language. Acquire is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while attain is less common and often used in more formal or specialized settings.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between acquire and attain?
Attain is generally considered more formal than acquire. While acquire can be used in both formal and informal contexts, attain is typically reserved for more formal or specialized settings.
