attainment

/əˈteɪnmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈteɪnmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈtān-mənt/ (ame, mw)

attainment — noun

  • attainmentsingular
  • attainmentsplural

1. the action of finally getting something you have worked towards over time, such

1.名詞C1
釋義

the action of finally getting something you have worked towards over time, such as a goal, a skill level, or a particular status.

例句

Padma devoted ten years to the attainment of fluent Korean.

attainment of + noun (the goal being reached)

The school measures success by the attainment of clear reading goals in each grade.

collocation: attainment of goals / standards / targets

同義詞
  • achievement

    more common and neutral; works for both the act and the result

  • accomplishment

    emphasizes the success of completing something difficult

  • realization

    highlights turning a plan or dream into something real

反義詞
  • failure

    the opposite outcome — not reaching what was aimed for

文法句型

attainment of + noun

the attainment of [goal]

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable in this sense and almost always followed by 'of + noun'. Distinguish from sense 2 (countable, refers to the result already reached, not the process of reaching it).

常見錯誤

❌She got the attainment of the goal.
✅She achieved the goal.
💡'attainment' names the achieving abstractly; use the verb 'achieve' or 'reach' for the action itself.
❌The attainment to good grades takes effort.
✅The attainment of good grades takes effort.
💡the preposition is 'of', never 'to'.

2. something a person has already done well, or a skill they have already learned,

2.名詞C1
釋義

something a person has already done well, or a skill they have already learned, often listed as proof of what they can do.

例句

Maeve listed her academic attainments at the top of her job application.

plural countable: someone's attainments

Painting watercolours and speaking three languages are among Anna's many attainments.

be among + plural attainments (listing context)

同義詞
  • accomplishment

    the most natural everyday alternative for a finished achievement

  • achievement

    neutral and very common; works for both formal and casual lists

  • qualification

    specifically a certificate or proof of study, narrower than 'attainment'

文法句型

someone's attainments

a list of attainments

用法筆記

Almost always countable here — you can have several attainments. Distinguish from sense 1, which is uncountable and names the action of reaching something rather than what has been reached.

常見錯誤

❌My biggest attainment is to learn French.
✅My biggest attainment is learning French.' or 'My biggest goal is to learn French.
💡'attainment' names something already done, not a future plan.
❌He is proud of his attainment.' (when meaning many achievements)
✅He is proud of his attainments.
💡use the plural when listing more than one.