attempt
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make an effort at; try; undertake; seek.
to attempt an impossible task; to attempt to walk six miles.
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Archaic. to attack; move against in a hostile manner.
to attempt a person's life.
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Archaic. to tempt.
verb
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to make an effort (to do something) or to achieve (something); try
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to try to surmount (an obstacle)
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to try to climb
they will attempt the north wall of the Eiger
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archaic to attack
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archaic to tempt
noun
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an endeavour to achieve something; effort
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a result of an attempt or endeavour
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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.
Related Words
See try.
Other Word Forms
- attemptability noun
- attemptable adjective
- attempter noun
- quasi-attempt verb
- reattempt verb (used with object)
- unattemptable adjective
- unattempted adjective
- unattempting adjective
- well-attempted adjective
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Colombo was where Brook stood in front of his team-mates in late January and apologised for his late-night antics in Wellington and the subsequent fallout – an attempt to draw a line under the Ashes defeat.
From BBC
It was just Green's sixth basket on 26 attempts on a tough shooting night.
From Barron's
The test was the scientists' second attempt at a practice run at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, having fixed earlier issues with filters and seals that had led to hydrogen leaks.
From BBC
A spokesperson added that they did not call off the show despite "many threats" attempting to force them to.
From BBC
He said the staffer’s responses were “clear attempts to say, ‘This is too much, this is too far, this is not right.’”
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
