Earn vs Attain - What's the difference?

Attain is a synonym of earn.

In transitive terms the difference between earn and attain

is that earn is to be worthy of while attain is to reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.

In intransitive terms the difference between earn and attain

is that earn is to receive payment for work while attain is to come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.

In obsolete terms the difference between earn and attain

is that earn is to grieve while attain is to overtake.

As a noun earn

is alternative form of lang=en.

earn

English

Etymology 1

Old English earnian

Verb

(en verb)

(lb) To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work.

*:Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers, of errand not wholly obvious to their fellows, yet of such sort as to call into query alike the nature of their errand and their own relations. It is easily earned repetition to state that Josephine St. Auban's was a presence not to be concealed.

*{{quote-news, year=2011, date=November 12, work=BBC Sport

, title= International friendly: England 1-0 Spain , passage=England will not be catapulted among the favourites for Euro 2012 as a result of this win, but no victory against Spain is earned easily and it is right they take great heart from their efforts as they now prepare to play Sweden at Wembley on Tuesday.}}

(lb) To receive payment for work.

:(rfex)

(lb) To receive payment for work.

(lb) To cause (someone) to receive payment or reward.

(lb) To be worthy of.

Synonyms

* (gain through applied effort or work) deserve, merit, garner, win * * * (cause someone to receive payment or reward) yield, make, generate, render

Derived terms

* earner * earnings * earn one's keep

Etymology 2

Anglo-Saxon irnan to run. See rennet, and compare yearnings.

Verb

(en verb)

(UK, dialect, dated) To curdle, as milk.

Etymology 3

Verb

(en verb)

(obsolete) To long; to yearn.

* Spenser

And ever as he rode, his heart did earn / To prove his puissance in battle brave.

(obsolete) To grieve.

Etymology 4

Noun

(en noun)

(Sir Walter Scott)

(Webster 1913)

Anagrams

* 1000 English basic words ----

attain

English

Verb

(en verb)

To accomplish; to achieve.

To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice each day.

To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain.

* Fuller

not well attaining his meaning

To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.

* Milton

Canaan he now attains .

* Bible, Psalms cxxxix. 6

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it.

To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.

* Bible, Acts xxvii. 12

if by any means they might attain to Phenice

* Sir Walter Scott

Nor nearer might the dogs attain .

* Cowper

to see your trees attain to the dignity of timber

* J. R. Green

Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this.

To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.

(obsolete) To overtake.

(Francis Bacon)