ATTAINMENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does attainment mean? 

• ATTAINMENT (noun)
  The noun ATTAINMENT has 3 senses:

1. the act of achieving an aim

2. arrival at a new stage

3. an ability that has been acquired by training

  Familiarity information: ATTAINMENT used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ATTAINMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of achieving an aim

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the attainment of independence

Hypernyms ("attainment" is a kind of...):

accomplishment; achievement (the action of accomplishing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "attainment"):

success (an attainment that is successful)

course credit; credit (recognition by a college or university that a course of studies has been successfully completed; typically measured in semester hours)

accession; rise to power (the act of attaining or gaining access to a new office or right or position (especially the throne))

record (an extreme attainment; the best (or worst) performance ever attested (as in a sport))

Derivation:

attain (to gain with effort)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Arrival at a new stage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

his attainment of puberty was delayed by malnutrition

Hypernyms ("attainment" is a kind of...):

arrival; reaching (accomplishment of an objective)

Derivation:

attain (reach a point in time, or a certain state or level)

attain (reach a destination, either real or abstract)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An ability that has been acquired by training

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

accomplishment; acquirement; acquisition; attainment; skill

Hypernyms ("attainment" is a kind of...):

ability; power (possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "attainment"):

swordsmanship (skill in fencing)

soldiering; soldiership (skills that are required for the life of soldier)

showmanship (the ability to present something (especially theatrical shows) in an attractive manner)

seamanship (skill in sailing)

salesmanship (skill in selling; skill in persuading people to buy)

oarsmanship (skill as an oarsman)

numeracy (skill with numbers and mathematics)

mixology (skill in preparing mixed drinks)

mastership (the skill of a master)

marksmanship (skill in shooting)

literacy (the ability to read and write)

horsemanship (skill in handling and riding horses)

craft; craftsmanship; workmanship (skill in an occupation or trade)

 Context examples 

Had he done it for love of a woman, or for attainment of beauty, Martin would have understood.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

This phase includes the final stages of pubertal growth and development as well as the attainment of significant psycho-social milestones.

(Late Adolescence, NCI Thesaurus)

An international team of researchers has identified 74 areas of the human genome associated with educational attainment.

(Researchers identify genetic links to educational attainment, NIH)

I took advantage now of my attainments.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Research aimed at assessing the quality and effectiveness of health care as measured by the attainment of a specified end result or outcome; for complete retrieval include RTs.

(Outcomes Research, NIH CRISP Thesaurus)

Mary's is a clergyman, a college friend of her brother's, and, from his attainments and principles, worthy of the connection.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The scientific attainments of Professor Summerlee are too well known for me to trouble to recapitulate them.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A descriptive or distinctive appellation, especially one belonging to a person by right of rank, office, attainment, etc.

(Organizational Contact Title, NCI Thesaurus)

If these disorders are left untreated, they can extend into adult life, thus impacting educational attainment, employment, relationships and even parenting, warned Tarun Dua, a mental health adviser at the WHO.

(Half of mental health disorders arise in adolescence, SciDev.Net)

After beating a little tune on his chin as he walked on, with the two forefingers of his skeleton right hand, he added: There are expressions, you see, Master Copperfield—Latin words and terms—in Mr. Tidd, that are trying to a reader of my umble attainments.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)