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Finish vs Attain - What's the difference?

finish | attain | Related terms |

Finish is a related term of attain.


As verbs the difference between finish and attain

is that finish is (label) to complete (something) while attain is to accomplish; to achieve.

As a noun finish

is an end: the end of anything.

finish

English

Noun

(es)
  • an end: the end of anything
  • a protective coating given to wood or metal and other surfaces
  • the result of any process changing the physical or chemical properties of cloth
  • (label) a shot on goal, especially one that ends in a goal
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 2 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Bulgaria 0-3 England , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The Italian opted for Bolton's Cahill alongside captain John Terry - and his decision was rewarded with a goal after only 13 minutes. Bulgaria gave a hint of defensive frailties to come when they failed to clear Young's corner, and when Gareth Barry found Cahill in the box he applied the finish past Nikolay Mihaylov.}}

    Verb

  • (label) to complete (something)
  • (label) to apply a treatment to (a surface or similar)
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=10 , passage=Mr. Cooke had had a sloop?yacht built at Far Harbor, the completion of which had been delayed, and which was but just delivered. […] The Maria had a cabin, which was finished in hard wood and yellow plush, and accommodations for keeping things cold.}}
  • (label) to change an animal's food supply in the months before it is due for slaughter, with the intention of fattening the animal
  • (label) to come to an end

    • Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (the (-ing) form). See

    Derived terms

    * nice guys finish last

    Antonyms

    * (to complete) initiate, begin, start

    Related terms

    * finish line * finishing school 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)