attempt

1 of 2

verb

at·​tempt ə-ˈtem(p)t 

attempted; attempting; attempts

transitive verb

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

attemptable

ə-ˈtem(p)-tə-bəl 

adjective

attempt

2 of 2

noun

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

2

: attack, assault

an attempt on the life of the president

Synonyms

Verb

• assay
• endeavor
• essay
• seek
• strive
• try

Noun

• assay [archaic]
• bash [chiefly British]
• bid
• crack
• endeavor
• essay
• fling
• go
• offer
• pass
• shot
• stab
• trial
• try
• whack
• whirl

Choose the Right Synonym for attempt

attempt, try, endeavor, essay, strive mean to make an effort to accomplish an end.

attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

will attempt to photograph the rare bird

try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

tried to determine which was the better procedure

endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains

essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

will essay a dramatic role for the first time

strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

continues to strive for peace

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 Web

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

The bill would limit the ability of government officials to accept federal funding related to elections, an attempt to limit the ability of President Joe Biden or another Democratic presidential administration to direct dollars into Kansas elections. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2024

An Indian consulting agency is reducing bonuses for hybrid workers in an attempt to get employees back into the office full-time. —Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024

The first season ended with Wednesday successfully solving a series of grisly murders while also thwarting an attempt to destroy Nevermore Academy and its students. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024

China has had less success, however, using GSI principles in its attempts to resolve the war in Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. —Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

Urban Catalyst is also pushing forward with attempts to secure crucial construction financing for the development. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024

Also like Williams, Maye emptied his toolbox in an attempt to prop up a bad football team last season. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024

Throughout its extensive history, Garfield residents pushed through challenging times: racist housing practices, the development of Arizona’s freeway system and even an attempt to plop a football stadium on the border of the historic neighborhood. —Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024

Also in 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court heard Timbs v. Indiana, in which Tyson Timbs sued the state in response to an attempt to forfeit Timbs’ Land Rover. —Isabelle Kause, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French attempter, from Latin attemptare, from ad- + temptare to touch, try — more at tempt

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing attempt

• an attempt on someone's life
• attempt suicide
• made an attempt
• make an attempt
• make an attempt on (someone's) life
• make no attempt

Kids 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 noun

1

: the act or an instance of attempting

especially : an unsuccessful effort

2

: attack entry 2 sense 1

an attempt on the president's life

Legal Definition

attempt

noun

at·​tempt

: the crime of having the intent to commit and taking action in an effort to commit a crime that fails or is prevented

called also criminal attempt

see also impossibility

Note: There must generally be more than preparation to be guilty of attempt.