attacks; attacked; attacking
1
: to act violently against (someone or something) : to try to hurt, injure, or destroy (something or someone)
He attacked the guard with a knife.
Troops attacked the fortress at dawn.
—often used as (be) attackedHe was attacked by a dog.
He was attacked from behind by two men.
Suddenly, the dog attacked.
The troops attacked at dawn.
2
: to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh and severe way
The study has been attacked as unscientific. [=people have criticized the study by saying that it is unscientific]
People are attacking the mayor for breaking campaign promises.
The professor has been widely attacked for her position on the issue.
3
a
: to begin to work on or deal with (something, such as a problem) in a determined and eager way
We eagerly attacked the problem. [=we eagerly tried to solve the problem]
b
: to begin to eat (food) eagerly
Did you see the way the kids attacked that pizza?
4
: to begin to harm, injure, or destroy (something)
The virus attacks the body's immune system.
A number of trees have been attacked by the disease.
Insects have attacked the crops.
5
sports
: to try to score points or goals by moving forward in a very forceful way
The team attacked from the outset, so it was no surprise that they won.
The offense attacked the weak defensive line.
plural attacks
1
a
: a violent, harmful, or destructive act against someone or something
dog/shark attacks = attacks by dogs/sharks
One of the patients was the victim of a knife attack. [=an attack made using a knife]
—often + onThere have been a number of attacks on women on the campus.
b
: harmful or destructive action against something by a disease, insect, chemical, etc.
The immune system is the body's defense against attack by germs.
The spray protects plants from attacks by many common pests.
2
: an attempt by a military force to defeat an enemy : a military offensive
an air/ground attack = an attack made from the air/ground
The surprise attack came at dawn.
There is a threat of nuclear attack.
3
: strong or severe criticism
There have been many attacks against the professor for her position on the issue.
a verbal attack
The newspaper editorial is an attack on policy-makers.
4
: a sudden short period of suffering from an illness or of being affected by a strong emotion
an asthma attack
a panic/anxiety attack
—often + ofan attack of the flu
an attack of food poisoning
an attack of nerves/melancholy
—sometimes used figurativelyan attack of the giggles
He had an unexpected attack of goodness and helped us out.
5
: an attempt to destroy or end something
—often + on
City leaders have called for an attack on poverty.
Local schools are mounting an attack on racism.
6
: a method of dealing with something (such as a problem)
Each problem calls for a different attack.
The current approach isn't working. I think we need a new plan of attack. [=a new idea of how to do what we are trying to do]
7
sports
a
: an attempt by a player or group of players to score points, goals, or runs
—usually singular
They had a sustained attack but could not score.
The players carried the attack deep into the opponent's side of the field.
They won the game in the last two innings with an 8-hit attack. [=they won the game by getting eight hits in the last two innings]
b
British
: the players on a team who try to score : offense
The team's attack has been weakened by injury.
He will play in attack. [=(US) on offense]
always used before a noun
: designed for or used in a military attack
an attack helicopter/submarine
The bombers were in attack formation.
Cite this Entry
“Attack.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/attack. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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