attain

/əˈteɪn/

//əˈteɪn// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"attain" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“attain” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #12,908 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#12,908
frequency rank, English
6
letters
6
tracked misspellings
10
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To gain (an object or desired result).

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

attain vs attic
67% similar
attain vs attains
86% similar
attain vs attained
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for attain
PropertyValue
Headwordattain
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/əˈteɪn/
Letters6
Frequency rank#12,908
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs10
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “attain” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). attain lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for attain is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /əˈteɪn/. Corpus data places it at rank #12,908 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for attain, with forms such as "atain", "atatin", and "attainn". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 10 confusable-pair relationships, "attic", "attains", "attained", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English atteynen, from Anglo-Norman ataindre, from Old French, from Latin attingō. Doublet of attainder and attinge. The correct English form is attain, spelled A-T-T-A-I-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    To gain (an object or desired result).
  2. 2
    To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at (a place, time, state, etc.).
  3. 3
    To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.
  4. 4
    To get at the knowledge of.
  5. 5
    To reach in excellence or degree.
  6. 6
    To reach a person after being behind them.

Etymology

From Middle English atteynen, from Anglo-Norman ataindre, from Old French, from Latin attingō. Doublet of attainder and attinge.

This word in other languages

lograr(Español)atteindre(Français)erreichen(Deutsch)atingir(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: atain,atatin,attainn,attani,attian,tatain

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of attain - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

atain1atatin2attainn1attani2attian2tatain2
Edit distance from "attain"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "attain"?
"attain" is spelled A-T-T-A-I-N. The IPA pronunciation is /əˈteɪn/.
What does "attain" mean?
As a verb, "attain" means: To gain (an object or desired result).
What words are commonly confused with "attain"?
"attain" is commonly confused with "attic", "attains", "attained". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "attain"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "attain" is /əˈteɪn/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "attain"?
From Middle English atteynen, from Anglo-Norman ataindre, from Old French, from Latin attingō. Doublet of attainder and attinge. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “attain”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-T-T-A-I-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əˈteɪn/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “attic” - see the side-by-side comparison. attain vs attic
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list