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attempt
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As a verb, attempt means try. As a noun, it means the action of trying at something.
Meanings of attempt
9 meaningsverb
To try.
“I attempted to sing, but my throat was too hoarse.”
“to attempt an escape from prison”
Older and rare meanings (3)
obsoleteTo try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt.
archaicTo try to win, subdue, or overcome.
“one who attempts the virtue of a woman”
archaicTo attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force.
“to attempt the enemy's camp”
noun
The action of trying at something.
“We made an attempt to cross the stream, but didn't manage.”
“This poem is much better than the feeble attempt of mine.”
An assault or attack, especially an assassination attempt.
The act of attacking
“attacks on women increased last year”
“they made an attempt on his life”
Similar: attack
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).