Attain and obtain are two commonly confused English verbs because both can mean “to get” or “to achieve.” However, they are not interchangeable in every sentence.
The main difference is that attain usually refers to reaching a goal, level, standard, condition, or achievement, often after effort or progress. Obtain, on the other hand, usually means to get, acquire, or receive something, especially through an action, request, purchase, application, or process.
For example, you can attain success, attain a goal, or attain a certain level. You can obtain permission, obtain information, or obtain a document.
In this guide, we will explain attain vs obtain, show you exactly when to use each word, provide plenty of examples, cover common mistakes, and give you a simple memory trick to remember the difference.
Quick Answer: Attain vs Obtain
Attain means to successfully reach or achieve something, especially a goal, level, standard, age, or condition.
She worked hard to attain her goal.
Obtain means to get, acquire, or receive something, often through a particular process or effort.
You need to obtain permission before entering.
Easy Rule
Attain = reach or achieve
Obtain = get or acquire
What Does “Attain” Mean?
Attain is a verb meaning to reach, achieve, or successfully accomplish something.
It is often used with things that represent a desired result, position, condition, level, or goal.
For example:
He worked hard to attain success.
She finally attained her goal.
The company hopes to attain a higher level of efficiency.
He attained the age of eighteen last month.
The word attain often suggests that something has been reached after effort, progress, or a process of development.
Common Collocations With “Attain”
Some common expressions include:
- attain a goal
- attain success
- attain a level
- attain a standard
- attain perfection
- attain independence
- attain maturity
- attain a position
- attain an objective
- attain a certain age
For example:
The athlete trained for years to attain Olympic-level performance.
She worked hard to attain financial independence.
What Does “Obtain” Mean?
Obtain means to get, acquire, receive, or secure something.
It often refers to something that you get through a process or action.
For example:
You must obtain permission before using the building.
She obtained a copy of the report.
He obtained information from several sources.
They obtained a visa before traveling.
Unlike attain, obtain does not necessarily imply that you have reached a goal. It simply focuses on getting or acquiring something.
Common Collocations With “Obtain”
Common expressions include:
- obtain permission
- obtain information
- obtain a visa
- obtain a license
- obtain a degree
- obtain a copy
- obtain approval
- obtain evidence
- obtain a certificate
- obtain funding
- obtain a permit
- obtain a document
For example:
You need to obtain a license before operating the business.
The researcher obtained valuable information from the study.
Attain vs Obtain: The Main Difference
The easiest way to understand the difference is to focus on the idea behind each word.
Attain focuses on reaching or achieving something.
Obtain focuses on getting or acquiring something.
Compare these sentences:
She worked hard to attain her goal.
Her goal was something she wanted to reach or achieve.
She worked hard to obtain the necessary documents.
The documents were something she needed to get.
Both words can involve effort, but the result is different.
Comparison Table
| Attain | Obtain |
|---|---|
| Means reach or achieve | Means get or acquire |
| Usually involves a goal, level, condition, or achievement | Usually involves getting something |
| Often emphasizes accomplishment | Often emphasizes acquisition |
| Attain a goal | Obtain permission |
| Attain success | Obtain information |
| Attain maturity | Obtain a license |
| Attain a standard | Obtain a document |
| Attain independence | Obtain approval |
A simple way to remember the distinction is:
Attain something you reach.
Obtain something you get.
When to Use “Attain”
Use attain when you are talking about reaching a desired goal, condition, level, standard, or achievement.
1. Attain a Goal
She worked for years to attain her goal.
The team is determined to attain its objective.
Here, attain means achieve.
2. Attain Success
He eventually attained success in his career.
Hard work can help you attain success.
Success is something that can be achieved or reached.
3. Attain a Level
The company has attained a high level of performance.
The student attained an advanced level of English.
Here, attain means to reach a particular level.
4. Attain a Standard
The product must attain the required safety standard.
The school aims to attain higher academic standards.
5. Attain a Condition or State
The patient eventually attained full recovery.
The country worked to attain economic stability.
In these examples, attain describes reaching a particular state or condition.
When to Use “Obtain”
Use obtain when you mean get, acquire, receive, or secure something.
1. Obtain Permission
You must obtain permission before taking photographs.
This is one of the most common uses of obtain.
2. Obtain Information
The journalist obtained information from several sources.
Here, obtain means get.
3. Obtain a License
You need to obtain a license to operate the vehicle.
The license is something you acquire through an official process.
4. Obtain a Document
She went to the office to obtain a copy of her birth certificate.
The focus is on getting the document.
5. Obtain Approval
The project cannot begin until we obtain approval.
The approval is something that must be secured.
Attain vs Obtain Examples
Here are some examples that make the difference easier to understand.
Attain
She worked hard to attain her dreams.
The company hopes to attain its sales target.
He eventually attained financial independence.
The athlete attained an impressive level of fitness.
The country is working to attain economic stability.
Obtain
She obtained permission from her manager.
He obtained a visa before traveling.
We need to obtain more information.
They obtained funding for the project.
She obtained a copy of the contract.
The distinction is usually clear when you ask whether the thing is being reached or acquired.
Can “Attain” and “Obtain” Ever Be Interchangeable?
Sometimes, but usually not without changing the emphasis.
For example, obtain a degree is very common because a degree is something you receive or acquire after completing a program.
She obtained a degree in biology.
You may also see:
She attained a degree in biology.
However, obtain a degree is generally more natural when the focus is on receiving or acquiring the qualification.
If the focus is on achievement, another verb such as attain may be possible in a different construction:
She attained a high level of academic achievement.
This distinction shows why replacing one word with the other can sometimes make a sentence sound unnatural.
Attain vs Obtain a Goal
This is a particularly useful distinction.
We normally say:
Attain a goal
because a goal is something you reach or achieve.
For example:
She worked hard to attain her career goals.
Obtain a goal is not the normal collocation.
Instead, use:
achieve a goal
or:
attain a goal
Attain vs Obtain Permission
Here, obtain is the natural choice.
You need to obtain permission.
Why?
Because permission is something you get or secure, rather than something you reach.
Attain permission is generally unnatural.
Attain vs Obtain Success
Attain success is possible because success can be viewed as something you reach or achieve.
However, achieve success is often more natural in everyday English.
She worked hard to achieve success.
She worked hard to attain success.
Both can work, but attain has a more formal tone.
Obtain success is generally not the normal expression.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “Obtain” for a Goal
Incorrect or unnatural:
She worked hard to obtain her goal.
Better:
She worked hard to attain her goal.
Even more common:
She worked hard to achieve her goal.
Mistake 2: Using “Attain” for Permission
Unnatural:
You must attain permission.
Better:
You must obtain permission.
Permission is something you get or secure.
Mistake 3: Assuming Both Words Simply Mean “Get”
Although both words can involve getting something, their meanings are not identical.
Obtain is much closer to get or acquire.
Attain is closer to reach or achieve.
Mistake 4: Using “Attain” for Physical Objects
You would normally say:
I obtained a new laptop.
Not:
I attained a new laptop.
A laptop is something you acquire, not something you reach or achieve.
Attain vs Obtain: Memory Trick
Here is an easy way to remember the difference:
Attain = Achievement
Both words begin with A.
Think:
A = Achievement
attain a goal
attain success
attain a level
Obtain = Ownership or Acquisition
Think of obtain as getting something.
obtain permission
obtain information
obtain a document
obtain a license
So remember:
Attain = reach
Obtain = get
Attain vs Obtain in Formal English
Both attain and obtain are relatively formal verbs compared with the simple word get.
For example:
We need to get permission.
More formal:
We need to obtain permission.
Similarly:
She reached her goal.
More formal:
She attained her goal.
This is why these words appear frequently in academic, professional, business, legal, and formal writing.
American vs British English
The distinction between attain and obtain is essentially the same in American and British English.
Both varieties commonly use:
attain a goal
attain a standard
obtain permission
obtain a license
obtain information
There is no major difference in meaning between American and British English for these verbs.
Attain vs Obtain vs Achieve
Because attain and obtain are often confused with achieve, it is useful to compare all three.
| Word | Main Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Attain | Reach or achieve | She attained her goal. |
| Obtain | Get or acquire | She obtained permission. |
| Achieve | Successfully accomplish | She achieved her goal. |
Attain and achieve can be similar when talking about goals or accomplishments.
Obtain is different because it generally focuses on acquiring something.
For example:
He attained his objective.
He achieved his objective.
Both are natural.
But:
He obtained permission.
This means he got permission, not that he reached a goal.
Attain vs Obtain in a Sentence
A quick substitution test can help.
If you can replace the word with reach or achieve, use attain.
She attained her goal.
She reached her goal.
If you can replace the word with get or acquire, use obtain.
She obtained permission.
She got permission.
This simple test works in many situations.
Final Verdict
Attain and obtain both describe getting something, but they emphasize different ideas.
Attain means to reach, achieve, or accomplish something, especially a goal, level, standard, condition, or desired state.
She worked hard to attain her goal.
Obtain means to get, acquire, receive, or secure something.
She needed to obtain permission.
The easiest rule is:
Attain = reach or achieve.
Obtain = get or acquire.
When talking about goals, success, levels, standards, or conditions, attain is often appropriate.
When talking about permission, information, documents, licenses, approval, funding, or other things you acquire, obtain is usually the better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between attain and obtain?
Attain means to reach or achieve something, while obtain means to get, acquire, receive, or secure something.
Attain a goal.
Obtain permission.
Is it correct to say “obtain a goal”?
It is understandable, but attain a goal or achieve a goal is much more natural in standard English.
Is it correct to say “attain permission”?
Generally, no. The natural expression is obtain permission because permission is something you get or secure.
Is “attain” a synonym for “achieve”?
Yes, in some contexts. Attain can mean to reach or achieve a goal, level, standard, or desired condition. However, achieve is often more common in everyday English.
Is “obtain” a synonym for “get”?
Yes. Obtain can mean to get or acquire something, but it is more formal than get.
Obtain information = get information.
Which is correct: “attain success” or “obtain success”?
Attain success is the appropriate choice of these two. However, achieve success is often more natural in everyday English.
Can you attain a degree?
Yes, attain a degree is grammatically possible, but obtain a degree or earn a degree is generally more natural when referring to receiving an academic qualification.
What is the easiest way to remember attain vs obtain?
Remember:
Attain = reach
Obtain = get
If something is a goal, level, standard, or achievement, think attain. If something is permission, information, a document, or an item you acquire, think obtain.
Conclusion
The difference between attain and obtain becomes simple once you focus on whether you are reaching something or getting something.
Use attain for goals, achievements, levels, standards, and desired conditions:
attain a goal
attain success
attain a high level
Use obtain for things you get, acquire, or secure:
obtain permission
obtain information
obtain a license
obtain approval
When in doubt, remember the simple distinction:
Attain means reach. Obtain means get.
Remember This
Attain = reach or achieve
attain a goal
attain success
attain a standard
Obtain = get or acquire
obtain permission
obtain information
obtain a license
Quick memory trick:
Attain → Achievement
Obtain → Acquisition
Christopher Thomas is a passionate writer and dream researcher dedicated to exploring the meanings behind dreams. As an author at DrameyHut, he creates insightful and easy-to-understand interpretations that help readers connect with their subconscious mind. His work focuses on guiding individuals toward self-discovery, clarity, and a deeper understanding of their inner thoughts.
