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to make an effort at; try; undertake; seek:
to attempt an impossible task; to attempt to walk six miles.
archaic. to attack; move against in a hostile manner:
to attempt a person’s life.
archaic. to tempt.
an effort made to accomplish something:
he made an attempt to swim across the lake.
an attack or -ssault:
an attempt upon the leader’s life.
contemporary examples

the day before there had been an attempt to abduct him, she says.
‘in cold blood’ in ukraine jamie dettmer may 2, 2014

honest conservatives make no attempt to hide the real intent of voter id laws.
angry about ferguson? oppose voter id laws jacob lupfer august 25, 2014

with athens recently alarmed by a half-dozen cases of west nile virus, the attempt at humor went mostly unappreciated.
the good, the bad, and the ugly of being politically correct michael medved july 30, 2012

as he tries again, patricia murphy explains why the first attempt failed.
washington’s not-so-adult moment patricia murphy july 28, 2011

he is due to face questioning by the police later this week, as they attempt to unpick the details of this amazing case.
who kidnapped irish millionaire kevin mcgeever? tom sykes february 4, 2013

historical examples

in 1858, an attempt was made to save it by revolutionizing its const-tution and management.
cleveland past and present maurice joblin

as to some of the others, i cannot wonder at any thing they do, or attempt to do, where self is concerned.
clarissa, volume 1 (of 9) samuel richardson

it was a manoeuvre, and there would be an attempt to rescue, after all.
in honour’s cause george manville fenn

and in making this attempt i must write from my own experience.
the conquest of fear basil king

i am sorry that i had a moment’s comp-ssion and made the attempt.
the brand of silence harrington strong

verb (transitive)
to make an effort (to do something) or to achieve (something); try
to try to surmount (an obstacle)
to try to climb: they will attempt the north wall of the eiger
(archaic) to attack
(archaic) to tempt
noun
an endeavour to achieve something; effort
a result of an attempt or endeavour
an attack, esp with the intention to kill: an attempt on his life
v.

late 14c., from old french attempter (14c.), earlier atenter “to try, attempt, test,” from latin attemptare “to try” (cf. italian attentare, old provençal, portuguese attentar, spanish atentar), from ad- “to, upon” (see ad-) + temptare “to try” (see tempt). related: attempted; attempting.
n.

1530s, from attempt (v.). meaning “effort to accomplish something by violence” is from 1580s, especially as an -ssault on someone’s life.