Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense attempts, present participle attempting, past tense, past participle attempted
1. verb
If you attemptto do something, especially something difficult, you try to do it.
The only time that we attempted to do something like that was in the city of Philadelphia. [VERB to-infinitive]
Before I could attempt a reply he added over his shoulder: 'Wait there.' [VERB noun]
Synonyms: try, seek, aim, struggle More Synonyms of attempt
2. countable noun [oft NOUN to-infinitive]
If you make an attemptto do something, you try to do it, often without success.
...a deliberate attempt to destabilise the defence.
It was one of his rare attempts at humour. [+ at]
...their involvement in a coup attempt in September.
Synonyms: try, go [informal], shot [informal], effort More Synonyms of attempt
3. countable noun
An attempt on someone's life is an attempt to kill them.
...an attempt on the life of the former Iranian Prime Minister. [+ on]
Synonyms: attack, assault, strike, offensive More Synonyms of attempt
4. countable noun
In British English, if a sportsman or sportswoman makes an attempton a sporting record, they try to beat it. In American English you say that they make an attemptto break it.
Everything is almost ready for me to make another attempt on the record.
attempt in British English
(əˈtɛmpt)
verb(transitive)
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
6.
an endeavour to achieve something; effort
7.
a result of an attempt or endeavour
8.
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)
Derived forms
attemptable (atˈtemptable)
adjective
attempter (atˈtempter)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French attempter, from Latin attemptāre to strive after, from tentāre to try
attempt in American English
(əˈtɛmpt)
verb transitive
1.
to make an effort to do, get, have, etc.; try; endeavor
2. Archaic
to tempt
noun
3.
a try
4.
an attack, as on a person's life
SIMILAR WORDS: try
Idioms:
attempt the life of
Derived forms
attemptable (atˈtemptable)
adjective
Word origin
ME attempten < OFr attempter < L attemptare, to try, solicit < ad-, to + temptare, to try: see tempt
More idioms containing
attempt
a last ditch attempt
Examples of 'attempt' in a sentence
attempt
We attempted to make life as awkward as possible for them.
The Sun (2016)
It was the first attempt and it worked.
The Sun (2017)
There were at least two attempts on his life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is another to attempt to impose regulations on 1.3 billion people determined to avoid them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The ex-PM was urged to pause and think about his record before attempting to overturn the will of the people.
The Sun (2016)
Clearly, my attempt to make it from scratch was viewed as quaint, archaic and unnecessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This attack is an attempt to kill the hope of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It was making a second attempt to land when a fuel tank is thought to have exploded.
The Sun (2013)
It followed numerous threats and an earlier attempt to kill him.
Geraghty, Tony The Bullet Catchers (1989)
Trained not to attempt something for which they had not been trained.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You made one last attempt and this time he replied.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Watch the climb then attempt it yourself.
The Sun (2012)
No first attempt at the alphabet of an unknown language has been so.
Lesley Adkins EMPIRES OF THE PLAIN: Henry Rawlinson and the Lost Languages of Babylon (2003)
They were concerned that the suspects would go into hiding or attempt an attack.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Paramedics will also be on standby during his record attempt.
The Sun (2016)
His second attempt was hardly more auspicious.
Christianity Today (2000)
He was the first man to be killed attempting the land speed record.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Quite why he did this is something the film attempts to address.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Looks like another attempt to make euro more acceptable.
The Sun (2008)
They were aiming to make it past the group stage for the first time in six attempts.
The Sun (2010)
Various attempts on his life follow.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They won't be the first to make an attempt.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I told him the story about the attempt on his life.
Charles Glass The Tribes Triumphant (2006)
So why was it that Turkey was able to see off a coup attempt for the first time in its history?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He has denied involvement, but there is increasing evidence that his followers were at the core of the coup attempt.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Q Why was there a coup attempt?
The Sun (2016)
The array of online services we can access anywhere, and at any time, means we make fewer attempts to remember things.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
attempt
British English: attempt /əˈtɛmpt/ NOUN
If you make an attempt to do something, you try to do it, often without success.
...a deliberate attempt to mislead people.
American English: attempt
Arabic: مُحَاوَلة
Brazilian Portuguese: tentativa
Chinese: 尝试
Croatian: pokušaj
Czech: pokus
Danish: forsøg
Dutch: poging
European Spanish: intento
Finnish: yritys kokeilu, yrityskerta
French: tentative
German: Versuch
Greek: απόπειρα
Italian: tentativo
Japanese: 試み
Korean: 시도
Norwegian: forsøk
Polish: próba usiłowanie
European Portuguese: tentativa
Romanian: încercare
Russian: попытка
Latin American Spanish: intento
Swedish: försök
Thai: ความพยายาม
Turkish: girişim
Ukrainian: спроба
Vietnamese: sự cố gắng
British English: attempt /əˈtɛmpt/ VERB
If you attempt to do something, especially something difficult, you try to do it.
I've never attempted to do something like that.
American English: attempt
Arabic: يُحاوِلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: tentar
Chinese: 试图
Croatian: pokušati
Czech: pokusit se
Danish: forsøge
Dutch: proberen
European Spanish: intentar
Finnish: yrittää
French: tenter essayer
German: versuchen
Greek: επιχειρώ
Italian: tentare
Japanese: 試みる
Korean: 시도하다
Norwegian: forsøke
Polish: spróbować
European Portuguese: tentar
Romanian: a încerca
Russian: пытаться
Latin American Spanish: intentar
Swedish: försöka
Thai: พยายาม
Turkish: kalkışmak
Ukrainian: пробувати
Vietnamese: cố gắng
All related terms of 'attempt'
re-attempt
to attempt (something) again
rescue attempt
an attempt to bring a person or people out of danger , harm , attack, etc
suicide attempt
an attempt to kill oneself
attempt the feat
If you refer to an action, or the result of an action, as a feat , you admire it because it is an impressive and difficult achievement .
a last ditch attempt
an action performed when everything else has failed , as a final attempt to avoid disaster , although it too seems likely to fail
attempt the life of
to try to kill
attempt the journey; attempt a journey
When you make a journey , you travel from one place to another.
Chinese translation of 'attempt'
attempt
(əˈtɛmpt)
n(c)
(= try) 尝(嘗)试(試) (chángshì) (个(個), gè)
vt
(= try) 试(試)图(圖) (shìtú)
vi
to attempt to do sth试(試)图(圖)做某事 (shìtú zuò mǒushì)
an attempt to do sth做某事的企图(圖) (zuò mǒushì de qǐtú)
an attempt on sb's life企图(圖)杀(殺)害某人 (qǐtú shāhài mǒurén)
he made no attempt to help他并(並)未试(試)着(著)帮(幫)忙 (tā bìngwèi shìzhe bāngmáng)
at or on the first attempt首次尝(嘗)试(試) (shǒucì chángshì)
he attempted a smile他试(試)图(圖)挤(擠)出一丝(絲)微笑 (tā shìtú jǐchū yī sī wēixiào)
an attempt at humour试(試)图(圖)表示幽默 (shìtú biǎoshì yōumò)
All related terms of 'attempt'
a last-ditch attempt
孤注一掷(擲) gū zhù yī zhì
an attempt at humour
试(試)图(圖)表示幽默 shìtú biǎoshì yōumò
an attempt to do sth
做某事的企图(圖) zuò mǒushì de qǐtú
to attempt to do sth
试(試)图(圖)做某事 shìtú zuò mǒushì
an attempt on sb's life
企图(圖)杀(殺)害某人 qǐtú shāhài mǒurén
to attempt the impossible
尝(嘗)试(試)不可能的事 chángshì bù kěnéng de shì
at or on the first attempt
首次尝(嘗)试(試) shǒucì chángshì
he made no attempt to help
他并(並)未试(試)着(著)帮(幫)忙 tā bìngwèi shìzhe bāngmáng
(verb)
Definition
to make an effort (to do or achieve something)
We attempted to do something like that here.
Synonyms
try
He secretly tried to block her advancement in the Party.
seek
He also denied that he would seek to annex the country.
aim
struggle
tackle
She is quite good at DIY and wants to tackle the job herself.
take on
experiment
venture
undertake
She undertook the arduous task of monitoring the elections.
essay (formal)
She essayed a smile, but it was a dismal failure.
strive
He strives hard to keep himself very fit.
endeavour
I will endeavour to rectify the situation.
have a go at (informal)
make an effort
make an attempt
have a crack at
have a shot at (informal)
try your hand at
do your best to
jump through hoops (informal)
have a stab at (informal)
take the bit between your teeth
1 (noun)
Definition
an endeavour to achieve something
a deliberate attempt to destabilize defence
Synonyms
try
I didn't really expect anything, but it was worth a try.
go (informal)
It took us two goes to get the colour right.
shot (informal)
He will be given a shot at the world title.
effort
He made no effort to hide.
trial
bid
a bid to silence its critics
experiment
a proposed new law banning animal experiments
crack (informal)
I'd love to have a crack at the title next year.
venture
a Russian-American joint venture
undertaking
Organizing the show has been a massive undertaking.
essay (formal)
My first essay in running a company was a disaster.
stab (informal)
Several times tennis stars have had a stab at acting.
endeavour
His first endeavours in the field were wedding films.
2 (noun)
an attempt on the life of the Prime Minister
Synonyms
attack
a campaign of air attacks on strategic targets
assault
The rebels are poised for a new assault.
strike
a nuclear strike
offensive
The armed forces have launched an offensive to recapture lost ground.