at·tempt
ə-ˈtem(p)t 
attempted; attempting; attempts
1
: to make an effort to do, accomplish, solve, or effect
He attempted to swim the swollen river.
2
archaic
: tempt
3
archaic
: to try to subdue or take by force : attack
1
a
: the act or an instance of trying to do or accomplish something : an act or instance of attempting something
She failed the test on her first attempt but passed on her second attempt.
They made an attempt [=tried] to be helpful.
often
: an unsuccessful effort
a suicide attempt
b
: something resulting from or representing an attempt
… surrounded by lemon trees and a few attempts at rose bushes.—
Marian Engel
Marian EngelSynonyms
Examples of attempt in a Sentence
Verb
They've attempted a climb up Mount Everest once before.
She attempted suicide early in their marriage.
Noun
She failed her driving test on the first attempt but she succeeded on her second attempt.
Her attempt at a home-cooked meal consisted of frozen fish sticks and a can of soup.
Recent Examples on the WebKrista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Apr. 2024
Progress Arizona, a 501(C)(4) nonprofit group, is attempting to channel that energy.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Colangelo also attempted to get ahead of potential criticism of testimony of Cohen, noting that the defense is likely to discredit him.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024
The artist, born Christopher Cheeks, was in an alleyway between Hayes and Church streets in Nashville at 2:30 a.m. with a 29-year-old man (who was not named), when according to Nashville police, three men attempted to rob them.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Any large potential buyer will face intense scrutiny from the E.U. and the Biden administration, which have challenged acquisitions attempted by tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, citing antitrust laws.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 22 Apr. 2024
As the driver attempted to intervene, one student jumped on his back and tried to reach around him to hit another student, striking the bus driver in the face in the process, according a Rowan County Sheriff’s Office news release.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2024
There’s an understanding in the dressing room of the common goal — putting themselves in the best position to succeed in the playoffs — and a camaraderie that allows everyone to simultaneously be one cohesive unit and their own selves while attempting to reach that goal.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024
In recent days, defense lawyers for Trump and his adult sons have attempted to recast Weisselberg's guilty plea as an act of legal coercion, rather than an acknowledgement of wrongdoing.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 12 Apr. 2024
In 2007, Simpson led an armed robbery attempt of a sports memorabilia dealer in Las Vegas.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Waiting much longer could be a costly blow in their attempt to collect more than 100,000 signatures by June 26.
—Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Then came an attempt to give the appropriations process teeth by setting an April deadline to pass the full-year spending bills or impose across-the-board cuts.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
American Crime Story was Fox’s second attempt at tackling the Simpson drama.
—Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
But his campaign also recently joined TikTok in an attempt to drum up younger voter enthusiasm.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
On Sunday, the Observer newspaper reported that neo-Nazi groups were making complaints en masse under the new law in an attempt to overwhelm Scottish police in protest.
—Leo Sands, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Last year, the association created its first California Fire Safety Council and worked closely with My Safe L.A., a nonprofit providing fire and safety education, as well as the Los Angeles Fire Department in an attempt to reduce fire risks in the area.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
Former Louisville pediatrician Stephanie Russell will be sent to federal prison after pleading guilty and admitting to stalking her ex-husband and attempting to hire someone to kill him.
—Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Apr. 2024
Progress Arizona, a 501(C)(4) nonprofit group, is attempting to channel that energy.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Colangelo also attempted to get ahead of potential criticism of testimony of Cohen, noting that the defense is likely to discredit him.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024
The artist, born Christopher Cheeks, was in an alleyway between Hayes and Church streets in Nashville at 2:30 a.m. with a 29-year-old man (who was not named), when according to Nashville police, three men attempted to rob them.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Any large potential buyer will face intense scrutiny from the E.U. and the Biden administration, which have challenged acquisitions attempted by tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, citing antitrust laws.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 22 Apr. 2024
As the driver attempted to intervene, one student jumped on his back and tried to reach around him to hit another student, striking the bus driver in the face in the process, according a Rowan County Sheriff’s Office news release.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2024
There’s an understanding in the dressing room of the common goal — putting themselves in the best position to succeed in the playoffs — and a camaraderie that allows everyone to simultaneously be one cohesive unit and their own selves while attempting to reach that goal.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024
In recent days, defense lawyers for Trump and his adult sons have attempted to recast Weisselberg's guilty plea as an act of legal coercion, rather than an acknowledgement of wrongdoing.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Noun
At another spot near a U.S. Forest Service access site, officers found a 5- and a 6-point bull elk—one of which was hidden under a pile of brush in attempt to conceal the crime.
—Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 12 Apr. 2024
In 2007, Simpson led an armed robbery attempt of a sports memorabilia dealer in Las Vegas.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Waiting much longer could be a costly blow in their attempt to collect more than 100,000 signatures by June 26.
—Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Then came an attempt to give the appropriations process teeth by setting an April deadline to pass the full-year spending bills or impose across-the-board cuts.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
American Crime Story was Fox’s second attempt at tackling the Simpson drama.
—Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
But his campaign also recently joined TikTok in an attempt to drum up younger voter enthusiasm.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
On Sunday, the Observer newspaper reported that neo-Nazi groups were making complaints en masse under the new law in an attempt to overwhelm Scottish police in protest.
—Leo Sands, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Last year, the association created its first California Fire Safety Council and worked closely with My Safe L.A., a nonprofit providing fire and safety education, as well as the Los Angeles Fire Department in an attempt to reduce fire risks in the area.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'attempt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near attempt
Cite this Entry
“Attempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attempt. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
attempt
1 of 2 verb
at·tempt
ə-ˈtem(p)t
1
: to try to do or perform
attempt an escape
2
: to make an effort : try
attempt to solve the problem
attempt
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or an instance of attempting
especially
: an unsuccessful effort
2
: attack entry 2 sense 1
an attempt on the president's life
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