Attempt Definition

ə-tĕmpt
attempted, attempting, attempts
verb
attempted, attempting, attempts
To try to perform, make, or achieve.
Attempted to read the novel in one sitting; attempted a difficult dive.
American Heritage
To make an effort to do, get, have, etc.; try; endeavor.
Webster's New World
To tempt.
Webster's New World
To try to seize or get control of by attacking.
American Heritage

To try.

I attempted to sing, but my throat was too hoarse.
To attempt an escape from prison.
A group of 80 budding mountaineers attempted Kilimanjaro, but 30 of them didn't make it to the top.
Wiktionary
Antonyms:
  • be lazy
noun
attempts
An effort or a try.
American Heritage
A try.
Webster's New World
An attack; an assault.
An attempt on someone's life.
American Heritage
An attack, as on a person's life.
Webster's New World

The intentional and overt taking of a substantial step toward the commission of a crime that falls short of completing the crime. The mere planning of a crime, as well as soliciting another to commit the crime, does not constitute an attempt to commit the crime. Attempt is a crime distinct from the offense that the criminal was attempting to commit. Various legal tests are used to determine when, between planning a crime and committing it, a person’s actions constitute an attempt. See also conspiracy and solicitation.

Webster's New World Law
Antonyms:
idiom
attempt the life of
  • to try to kill
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Attempt

Noun

Singular:
attempt
Plural:
attempts

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Attempt

  • attempt the life of

Origin of Attempt

  • Late 14th century, from Old French atempter, from Latin attemptō (“I try, solicit”), from ad (“to”) + temptare, more correctly tentare (“to try”); see tempt. The noun is from the 1530s, the sense "an assault on somebody's life, assassination attempt" (French attentat) is from 1580.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English attempten from Old French attempter from Latin attemptāre ad- ad- temptāre to test

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to attempt using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

attempt