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Pursue vs Attain - What's the difference?

pursue | attain |

In transitive terms the difference between pursue and attain

is that pursue is to participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession) while attain is to reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.

As verbs the difference between pursue and attain

is that pursue is to follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment while attain is to accomplish; to achieve.

pursue

English

Verb

(pursu)
  • (obsolete) To follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment.
  • To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
  • * Wyclif Bible, John xv. 20
    • The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued' me, they shall ' pursue you also.
  • * 2009 , Martin Chulov, ‘Iraqi shoe-thrower claims he suffered torture in jail’, The Guardian , 15 Sep 09:
    • He now feared for his life, and believed US intelligence agents would pursue him.
  • To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).
    • Her rival pursued a quite different course.
  • To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).
  • * 2009 , Benjamin Pogrund, ‘Freeze won't hurt Netanyahu’, The Guardian , 1 Dec 09:
    • He even stands to gain in world terms: his noisy critics strengthen his projected image of a man determined to pursue peace with Palestinians.
  • To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).

    • See also

    * follow * chase

    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)