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

• attemptability noun
• attemptable adjective
• attempter 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

Prices have almost doubled so far this year in what would be the best performance since 1979, when prices more than quintupled amid the historic attempt by the Hunt brothers to corner the silver market.

Read more on Barron's

“Suppliers are finding more and more errors when attempting to export to the U.S. — before I even have the opportunity to import.”

Read more on MarketWatch

“Those involved all believed that the protections against attempts to access the document early offered by the system were indeed in place,” the review said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The following day it was revealed that the FBI was opening a probe into the lawmakers’ conduct and would be attempting to schedule interviews with each of the six lawmakers.

Read more on Salon

An attempt was made to access the URL as early as 05:16.

Read more on BBC

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.