attempt

at·tempt

Use attempt in a sentence

noun

The definition of an attempt is an effort made to accomplish something.
An example of an attempt is a baby trying to take his first few steps.

verb

Attempt is defined as to make an effort to do something.
An example of attempt is to try to complete a large jigsaw puzzle in one sitting.

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"attempt." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/ATTEMPT>.

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attempt. (n.d.). Retrieved May 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ATTEMPT

attempt

to make an effort to do, get, have, etc.; try; endeavor
Archaic to tempt

Origin of attempt

Middle English attempten from Old French attempter from Classical Latin attemptare, to try, solicit from ad-, to + temptare, to try: see tempt

a try
an attack, as on a person's life

attempt Idioms

attempt the life of

to try to kill

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"attempt." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/ATTEMPT>.

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attempt. (n.d.). Retrieved May 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ATTEMPT

attempt

transitive verb

at·tempt·ed, at·tempt·ing, at·tempts

To try to perform, make, or achieve: attempted to read the novel in one sitting; attempted a difficult dive.
Archaic To tempt.
Archaic To try to seize or get control of by attacking.

noun

An effort or a try.
An attack; an assault: an attempt on someone's life.

Origin of attempt

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

Related Forms:

at·tempt′a·ble
adjective

at·tempt′er
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"attempt." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/ATTEMPT>.

APA Style

attempt. (n.d.). Retrieved May 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ATTEMPT

Verb

(third-person singular simple present attempts, present participle attempting, simple past and past participle attempted)

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.
(archaic) To try to win, subdue, or overcome.
one who attempts the virtue of a woman
(archaic) To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force.
to attempt the enemy's camp

Usage notes

This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive.

Noun

(plural attempts)

The action of trying at something. [1530]
An assault or attack, especially an assassination attempt. [1580]

Usage notes

Adjectives often applied to "attempt": first, failed, desperate, last, half-hearted, unsuccessful, serious, successful, feeble, new, honest, vain, sincere, ambitious, earnest, clumsy, direct, hard, brilliant, official, useless, clever, sophisticated, amateurish.

Origin

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.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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MLA Style

"attempt." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 May 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/ATTEMPT>.

APA Style

attempt. (n.d.). Retrieved May 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/ATTEMPT

attempt - Legal Definition

n

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.