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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Nothing But the Truth
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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:
Jenrick described this as an attempt at "modest savings" gutted by backbenchers.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
But he was hit while releasing a Hail Mary attempt that wobbled incomplete.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
Last month, Mehta learned he hadn’t been selected for the job—his sixth failed attempt to secure a government job in nearly a decade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
In July he learned that any further attempt to challenge the Kremlin could land him in jail.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Leah was frustrated with the presumptuous Mrs. Kedzie and her little sisters’ attempt at independence.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
He develops a reputation for aggression, seemingly fighting a war against everyone on the asphalt that spins out when he attempts to bully a cosmopolitan French driver into submission.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
Canadian officials and Stellantis have been in talks for nearly a year, as Ottawa attempts to recoup the cash the government provided for Brampton retooling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
“These are attempts to interfere, to meddle in Mexican politics,” Sheinbaum said at her regular morning news conference.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Bystanders - including Craig Bowe, who made three rescue attempts - have been praised for trying to help, including administering CPR to the Rahmans, who were from Ilford.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Simon was on his way, and the children had updated their journals with pictures of elephants, orangutans, and some brave attempts to spell “Peloponnesian.”
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
Nadezhdin, known for his affable demeanour, attempted to run for president in 2024.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to concerns about retaliation, said that their relative confirmed sailors had attempted to jump from the ship.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
For one year, author Olga Khazan attempted to change her personality — a journey she outlined in her book, “Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
Last week, Ellison attempted a high-profile reputation reboot, extolling his love for movies and blaming politics for opposition to the deal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
As the Union soldiers attempted to regroup, I ventured up to my knees to peer over the wall and watched as Confederate reinforcements arrived.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
They unsurprisingly struggled without significant contributions from their Australian superstars - Phoebe Litchfield was caught attempting a ramp off Charley Phillips for 10 and Annabel Sutherland was stumped off Georgia Adams for 25.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
Ricky Bobby spends the rest of his life attempting to follow in his father’s tire tracks, working his way up to be in the big show but not a star.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
The 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act Muehl admitted to violating prohibits hunting, harassing, capturing, or killing any marine mammal in U.S. waters, or attempting to do so.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
The U.S. official said the ship appeared to be attempting to transfer its crew to another civilian vessel after the attack.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
A national group called the People-to-People Committee was attempting to raise funds for the team, and the executive director asked Bobby if he’d give a simultaneous exhibition to publicize the team’s plight.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
