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.

---

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

It is unclear how Casement's complex legacy will influence this most recent attempt to bring him to County Antrim.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

The video captures the brakes being applied and the car veering left to attempt to swerve around the pedestrian, CHP said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

But their attempt to run away together—both understand their relationship would fuel scandal in the town—goes unhappily awry, and Benjamin ends up finding work on a fishing boat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

But when Grace survives an assassination attempt, Todd is genuinely shaken.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

But his paws groped at the open air, the wispy silhouette unaffected by his futile attempt.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

China has rejected what it calls malicious attempts to smear the country.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Callum describes "constant delays" in his attempts to reach out to Curo and negotiate.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

“Rescue attempts have faced heavy resistance,” he said, adding that it was unclear who held the Salvadorans or where.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

"The operation began at 10 am this morning, and we are not entirely sure when it's going to end -- given our previous attempts were not successful," an oceans ministry official told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

Embarrassingly, Jonah heard one of his attempts, because Jonah had just stepped onto the Winstons’ front porch, ready to ring the doorbell and ask Chip over to play basketball.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

A neighbour attempted CPR and another neighbour called an ambulance.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

So what happened to a Costa Mesa woman who registered her dog to vote and attempted to cast ballots for it in two elections?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

His Tuesday night campaign event was interrupted when an attendee attempted to confront him over the ad.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

Perhaps most importantly, they attempted to help the 30-year-old Peralta regain the confidence that had been thoroughly shaken.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

When that scheme failed, they attempted to talk him out of the barn!

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Members of a United Nations-authorized force deployed to stabilize strife-torn Haiti are attempting to rescue four Salvadoran military personnel after gangs attacked their armored vehicle earlier this week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

It alleged that some were attempting to subvert the protests with "unacceptable acts".

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

In response, he created a series of photographic collages that showed Black boxers battling corporate towers — figures that generate wealth attempting to take down the symbols of its accumulation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

A caller may be attempting to harvest your personal information, or they may be an aggressive marketer working for a broker that has purchased your contact details.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026

“The task you four are attempting is very difficult,” said Mrs. Gause.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---