What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unattained
Example
The company's unattained sales targets led to a decrease in profits. [unattained: adjective]
Example
She was disappointed that her dream of becoming a doctor remained unattained. [unattained: adjective]
unobtained
Example
The book she wanted was unobtained at the local library. [unobtained: adjective]
Example
His unobtained dream of traveling the world remained a distant hope. [unobtained: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unattained is more common than unobtained in professional or academic settings. However, unobtained is more commonly used in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unattained and unobtained?
Unattained is more formal than unobtained. It is often used in professional or academic contexts, while unobtained is more casual and used in everyday language.