attempt

1 an effort to do or accomplish something it took several attempts before we made good ice cream with an old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream freezer Synonyms assay [archaic], bash [chiefly British], bid, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl Related Words striving, struggle, throes, undertaking; trial and error

2 the act or action of setting upon with force or violence several attempts on the life of the country's chief drug enforcement official Synonyms aggression, assault, attack, blitz, blitzkrieg, charge, coup de main, descent, offense (or offence), offensive, onset, onslaught, raid, rush, strikeRelated Words ambuscade, ambush; counteraggression, counterassault, counterattack, counteroffensive, counterstrike; sally, sortie; envelopment, flanking; breakthrough, foray, incursion, invasion; pillage, ravage, sack; air raid, bombardment, bombing; siege, storm; barrage, cannonade, fusillade, hail, salvo, volley; whammyNear Antonyms defense, defensive, guard, shield; opposition, resistance; protection, security, shelter

to make an effort to do after attempting—and failing—to start the lawn mower on my own, I finally succeeded with a neighbor's help don't even attempt walking on your broken foot Synonyms assay, endeavor, essay, seek, strive, try Related Words fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work; aim, aspire, hope; assume, take up, undertake Phrases have a go at, shoot at (or shoot for), try one's hand (at) Near Antonyms drop, give up, quit