ATTEMPT

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does attempt mean? 

• ATTEMPT (noun)
  The noun ATTEMPT has 2 senses:

1. earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

2. the act of attacking

  Familiarity information: ATTEMPT used as a noun is rare.

• ATTEMPT (verb)
  The verb ATTEMPT has 2 senses:

1. make an effort or attempt

2. enter upon an activity or enterprise

  Familiarity information: ATTEMPT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ATTEMPT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

attempt; effort; endeavor; endeavour; try

Context example:

she gave it a good try

Hypernyms ("attempt" is a kind of...):

activity (any specific behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "attempt"):

batting ((baseball) the batter's attempt to get on base)

test; trial (the act of undergoing testing)

run; test; trial (the act of testing something)

takeover attempt (an attempt to take control of a corporation)

battle; struggle (an energetic attempt to achieve something)

nisus; pains; strain; striving (an effortful attempt to attain a goal)

shot (an attempt to score in a game)

shot; stab (informal words for any attempt or effort)

seeking (an attempt to acquire or gain something)

power play; squeeze; squeeze play (an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power)

liberation (the attempt to achieve equal rights or status)

best (the supreme effort one can make)

worst (the weakest effort or poorest achievement one is capable of)

bid; play (an attempt to get something)

crack; fling; go; offer; pass; whirl (a usually brief attempt)

essay (a tentative attempt)

foray (an initial attempt (especially outside your usual areas of competence))

contribution; part; share (the effort contributed by a person in bringing about a result)

mug's game (a futile or unprofitable endeavor)

Derivation:

attempt (make an effort or attempt)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of attacking

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

attack; attempt

Context example:

they made an attempt on his life

Hypernyms ("attempt" is a kind of...):

crime; criminal offence; criminal offense; law-breaking ((criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "attempt"):

assault (a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped)

• ATTEMPT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they attempt    ... he / she / it attempts   
Past simple: attempted   
Past participle: attempted   
-ing form: attempting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make an effort or attempt

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

assay; attempt; essay; seek; try

Context example:

She always seeks to do good in the world

Hypernyms (to "attempt" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "attempt"):

pick up the gauntlet; take a dare (be dared to do something and attempt it)

fight; struggle (make a strenuous or labored effort)

give it a try; have a go (make an attempt at something)

grope (search blindly or uncertainly)

endeavor; endeavour; strive (attempt by employing effort)

give it a try; give it a whirl (try)

adventure; chance; gamble; hazard; risk; run a risk; take a chance; take chances (take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome)

lay on the line; put on the line; risk (expose to a chance of loss or damage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They attempt to move

Derivation:

attempt (earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something)

attempter (one who tries)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Enter upon an activity or enterprise

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

attempt; set about; undertake

Hypernyms (to "attempt" is one way to...):

initiate; pioneer (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

 Context examples 

“And how could you tell that they would make their attempt to-night?” I asked.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Desiring to say good-night, she attempted to enter her son’s room.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He shrugged his shoulders, or attempted to shrug them, rather, for the left shoulder alone moved.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

There were three minnows in the pool, which was too large to drain; and after several ineffectual attempts to catch them in the tin bucket he forbore.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

"This man Swineburne," he began, attempting to put his plan into execution and pronouncing the i long.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Of course, I understood that he would repeat the attempt whenever it could be done with safety.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I am very poor,” I said, attempting to smile, “and have got no money.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He tried to rise to his feet, and after several attempts fell down from weakness.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Dazed, suffering intolerable pain from throat and tongue, with the life half throttled out of him, Buck attempted to face his tormentors.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

But I could not eat; to even try to do so was repulsive to me, and, much as I would have liked to please him, I could not bring myself to the attempt.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)