attempt
Americanverb (used with object)
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attempts,
present (3rd person singular)
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attempted,
past participle, past
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attempting
present participle
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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.
Synonym Usage
See try.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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attemptabilitynoun
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attempternoun
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quasi-attemptverb
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reattemptverb (used with object)
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attemptableadjective
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unattemptableadjective
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unattemptedadjective
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unattemptingadjective
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well-attemptedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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attemptsimple
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attemptssimple
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have attemptedperfect
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has attemptedperfect
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am attemptingprogressive
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are attemptingprogressive
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is attemptingprogressive
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have been attemptingperfect progressive
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has been attemptingperfect progressive
Past
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attemptedsimple
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had attemptedperfect
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was attemptingprogressive
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were attemptingprogressive
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had been attemptingperfect progressive
Future
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!
Vocabulary lists containing attempt
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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American Football, 1st Quarter
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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.
See Examples For:
Their attempt to show they paid a price premium also fell short.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
The operation is part of the government's attempt to concentrate the migrants in facilities where they can be identified and cared for while their administrative status is individually determined.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Jones, who first assumed his role in 2023, said that the presentation was an attempt to reach voters ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
Cereal companies also attempt to avoid unappetizing stickers, mandated in some other countries, warning of high sugar or fat content.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
Only when the front door is closed and latched does Mom attempt a smile.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Of all the recent attempts to erase the cultural past embodied in stone, Palmyra in Syria still stands out.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
At least three other attempts to loosen smog check requirements for older cars have failed to make it to the governor’s desk since 2016.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
In the Premiership alone this season, they have faced 64 attempts, the same number as Hearts and six more than Rangers.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
These include Eloise, a librarian who believes in peaceful dissent and futilely attempts to bring both sides together.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
After several attempts at speaking, Booth whispered: “Tell Mother, I die for my country.”
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
The game was full of penalties as the both teams attempted to be more physical than the other.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Gray has attempted to feed passes down the line but Spurs have not done this regularly more centrally.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Pumping Venezuela’s heavy oil is known globally as a challenging prospect attempted by few outside the U.S. major oil companies such as ExxonMobil and Chevron.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
It attempted to distinguish between AI systems designed to be intelligent about a narrow set of subjects and those that could be generally intelligent, with wide-ranging capabilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Cavalry rode to the Occoquan River to intercept anyone who attempted to cross.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Archer's second wicket was curious – Wanindu Hasaranga out hit-wicket attempting a slog, his bat almost placed on top of the bails.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
My career was insulted, and I was mocked for fumbling around while attempting to juice a pineapple with a woefully inadequate kitchen utensil.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
If researchers tried to perform the experiment with a charged particle, stray electromagnetic fields could overwhelm the gravitational effect they are attempting to detect.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
DirecTV filed its own lawsuit the next day attempting to stop the combination.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
It was during her bout with the chicken pox, when she dropped her painstakingly researched art history paper into the milk bath while attempting to proofread it.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
