attempt

American  

[uh-tempt] / əˈtɛmpt /

verb (used with object)

attempts, present (3rd person singular) attempted, past participle, past attempting present participle

1. to make an effort at; try; undertake; seek.

   to attempt an impossible task; to attempt to walk six miles.

2. Archaic. to attack; move against in a hostile manner.

   to attempt a person's life.

3. Archaic. to tempt.

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noun

attempts plural

1. an effort made to accomplish something.

   He made an attempt to swim across the lake.

   Synonyms:

   endeavor, try

2. an attack or assault.

   an attempt upon the leader's life.

attempt British  

/ əˈtɛmpt /

verb

1. to make an effort (to do something) or to achieve (something); try

2. to try to surmount (an obstacle)

3. to try to climb

   they will attempt the north wall of the Eiger

4. archaic to attack

5. archaic to tempt

---

noun

1. an endeavour to achieve something; effort

2. a result of an attempt or endeavour

3. an attack, esp with the intention to kill

   an attempt on his life

Usage

What does attempt mean? An attempt is an effort made to complete a task, as in My attempt to go to the concert failed when my car broke down. To attempt means to try to complete a task, as in When Riddhi attempted to run to better her health, she found that she really enjoyed it too. When you attempt something, you are making some kind of effort, whether or not you succeed. To attempt is to try. Example: Louise attempted to make bread, but she forgot to add yeast to the recipe.

Synonym Usage

See try.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• attemptability
  noun
• attempter
  noun
• quasi-attempt
  verb
• reattempt
  verb (used with object)
• attemptable
  adjective
• unattemptable
  adjective
• unattempted
  adjective
• unattempting
  adjective
• well-attempted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• attempts
  plural

Participles

• attempting
  present
• attempted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• attempt
  simple
• attempts
  simple
• have attempted
  perfect
• has attempted
  perfect
• am attempting
  progressive
• are attempting
  progressive
• is attempting
  progressive
• have been attempting
  perfect progressive
• has been attempting
  perfect progressive

Past

• attempted
  simple
• had attempted
  perfect
• was attempting
  progressive
• were attempting
  progressive
• had been attempting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will attempt
  simple
• will have attempted
  perfect
• will be attempting
  progressive
• will have been attempting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of attempt

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English from Anglo-French atempter from Latin attemptāre “to test, tamper with.” See at-, tempt

Explanation

To attempt is to make an effort. You may attempt to read a book, but if you fail, no harm. If you attempt to jump from one building to the next and fail . . . . Ouch. The word attempt can also be used as a noun. It's an honest effort to do something. Your attempt to bake a birthday cake may look like a disaster, but the birthday boy will appreciate the effort anyway. The noun attempt can also mean an attack on a person or place, but in this case, it's best to hope that the attempt is not on your life. And never, ever attempt that sort of thing at home!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

attempt attempts attempted attempting

The nuclear deal, which is expected to close later this year, is “our attempt at really trying to get Truth stock substantially higher,” he said in an interview.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

Infantino sprinted across the stage and appeared to attempt to usher Trump out of frame.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

I’m a firm believer that entertaining at home should not attempt to recreate a restaurant experience beat for beat.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

But analysts say the removals may be an attempt to erase from public spaces a powerful symbol linked to Suu Kyi, the popular Nobel laureate who remains detained.

From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026

I attempt to entertain Teddy with Magna-Tiles and Legos and picture books, but he just sits on the ground, his bottom lip quivering, barely talking or playing.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

But attempts to draw that distinction have long worried the mental health community.

From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026

Leclerc was second fastest after the first runs, just 0.053secs slower than Antonelli, but Ferrari could not maintain that pace and neither he nor Hamilton improved on their second attempts.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

Nolan attempts to assert the text’s relevancy in our contemporary age, but that’s not something any scholar or even the average reader would contest.

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026

Mr. Bailey attempts something similar, jumping around freely in the timeline of Spark’s life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Marco attempts to protest but his voice catches in his throat.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

A deputy attempted to stop the attack using verbal commands, the department said, but the dog paid no heed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

The administration also attempted to serve subpoenas to Tyler Pager and Adam Goldman but didn’t ultimately do so.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

Two of those engines need to be removed and replaced before another launch can be attempted.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

Hope for a political settlement to the war has fallen by the wayside, though mediators have attempted to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.

From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026

Here was a definite challenge for Bobby, and he attempted to stay focused and confident by carefully studying Geller’s other games in the tournament.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Food-and-beverage ingredients maker Ingredion this year clinched a deal to take over U.K. rival Tate & Lyle, while the world’s largest owner of industrial real estate, Prologis, is currently attempting to buy Segro.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

The 25-year-old boarded a boat bound for Malaysia in April, part of a wave of Rohingya refugees attempting dangerous sea crossings that led to a record number of deaths in 2025.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

Before attempting to reshape an entire planet, we first need a much deeper understanding of Mars itself, along with the scientific, environmental, and ethical consequences of altering it.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

The party is attempting to capture enough swing voters to win a House majority in November, and some believe the Senate could also be within reach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

“Traft, I do thank you for saving my barn. And for attempting to save Karl’s. But this conversation is over.”

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Related Words

• attack
• bid
• endeavor
• experiment
• pursuit
• shot
• struggle
• try