Attainable
/əˈteɪnəbl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Attainable describes something that is possible to achieve or reach. It means a goal or object is not too hard or impossible but can be done with some work or effort. People use this word when they talk about realistic or reachable aims.
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⚡ See It in Action
Possible to achieve or reach
- •The goal of learning 100 new words in a month is attainable if you study every day.
- •A healthy lifestyle is attainable for everyone with some changes in habits.
- •The company set attainable sales targets for the next quarter.
Realistic and within reach
- •She made an attainable plan to finish the project before the deadline.
- •Attainable dreams help people stay motivated and focused.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "attainable" like "can get" (A1 phrase), but more formal and about goals or success
- ✓Picture climbing a small hill you can reach easily, not a very tall mountain you cannot climb
- ✓It's the feeling of hope and confidence that you can finish a task or reach your dream
- ✓Sounds like "a-TANE-uh-bull" → imagine saying "a train" that you can catch if you hurry, so the goal is reachable like catching a train
- ✓Imagine a student setting a score goal on a test that is hard but possible to get with study
- ✓NOT like "impossible" (cannot be done), "attainable" means it is possible and real
- ✓NOT like "easy" (no effort), "attainable" means it may need work but it is realistic and within reach
- ✓NOT like "distant" (far away), "attainable" means close enough to achieve
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Achievable: possible to do or complete (Use when talking about goals or tasks that can be done successfully)
- •Realistic: sensible and likely to happen (Use when emphasizing that something is sensible and not too hard)
- •Possible: able to be done or exist (Use in general for anything that can happen, less formal than attainable)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "at-" (prefix, here part of root) + "tain" (from Latin "tenere" meaning to hold or keep) + "-able" (suffix meaning able to be)
- •Etymology: From Latin "attainere" meaning to hold or reach, plus "-able" to form adjective meaning able to be reached or achieved
- •Historical development: Entered English in late 16th century, originally meaning able to be held or reached, later used for goals or achievements
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe goals, targets, or things that people can realistically get or do
💭 Reflect & Connect
•What makes a goal attainable for you personally, and how do you decide if something is possible to achieve?
•Can something be attainable for one person but not for another? Why do you think this happens?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Setting small steps helps make a big goal attainable because each step ___ progress.
2.When a goal is attainable, people usually feel ___ and ready to work hard.
3.Unlike impossible goals, attainable goals are ___ with effort and time.
4.She made her dreams attainable by breaking them into ___ parts.
5.Attainable goals are often paired with words like "realistic" or "___".
6.To keep a goal attainable, it should not be too ___ or far in the future.
7.If a plan is not attainable, people might feel ___ or lose motivation.