attempt

[uh-tempt]

verb (used with object)

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.

noun

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

/ 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

Attempt should not be used in the passive when followed by an infinitive: attempts were made to find a solution (not a solution was attempted to be found )

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of attempt¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of attempt¹

C14: from Old French attempter, from Latin attemptāre to strive after, from tentāre to try

Synonym Study

See try.

Example Sentences

GM first attempted to sell the Pune factory to Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Those selecting Russia are tasked with breaking the Sahel nations’ old ties to France and the West, much as Moscow is attempting to do in real life.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Mosquera had been a gang member in his youth, she said, but he was convicted of attempted murder -- not homicide -– in July 1989 for shooting a man in the leg.

Read more on Barron's

Hungarian spies attempting to recruit EU officials operated under diplomatic cover at the country's permanent representation to the bloc, which was led at the time by Varhelyi, said the investigation.

Read more on Barron's

Will “En Messe,” or “West Side Story,” actually reach the Kennedy Center, which the federal government is attempting to turn it into who-knows-what, this spring?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.