verb

attempt

uh-TEHMPT

verb

To try to do something, especially something difficult, without guaranteed success.

"He attempted the marathon despite his injury."

"She attempted to fix the leak herself before calling a plumber."

noun

An effort to do something, especially one that may fail.

"His first attempt at the exam didn't go well."

"The rescue attempt was called off due to bad weather."

How to Use Attempt

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA try at doing something, with the outcome uncertain — used as both a verb and noun.

Common pairings

make an attempt attempt to escape a failed attempt

Word Forms

attempted past tense, attempt plural, attempted plural, attempts plural, attempts singular, attempt singular, attempted singular, attemptest singular, attemptedst singular, attempteth singular

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Can you complete this real example?

He _____ the marathon despite his injury.

Etymology

From Old French atempter, from Latin attemptare, "to try, to test," from ad- ("toward") plus temptare ("to test").

Synonyms

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take a stab at take a run at essay assay seek effort try bid

Related Words

work BID seek search essay try effort suppose

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