Search

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

“i attempted to show the quicksilver nature of her thinking, where she makes visual -ssociations,” jackson said.
hbo’s autistic hero jace lacob february 3, 2010

prince harry showed he is still game for a laugh today when he attempted to change the nappy of a baby (doll) with just one hand.
practice makes perfect: uncle harry changes a baby’s diaper tom sykes april 24, 2013

no other press or television organization had attempted that detailed of a narrative reconstruction at the time.
bl–dy sunday: how the truth came out harold evans june 15, 2010

in january, the new york times reported that at least 70 americans have either traveled or attempted to travel to syria.
exclusive: al qaeda’s american fighters are coming home—and u.s. intelligence can’t find them eli lake may 19, 2014

according to frank, adam cut nalepa down from the “makeshift noose,” called police, and attempted to render medical care.
mysterious death at mogul’s mansion christine pelisek july 19, 2011

historical examples

he was afraid the chiefest places of his enterprise might be attempted, and he should be undone.
sir walter ralegh william stebbing

this was the first time i ever attempted to escape and gain my freedom.
biography of a slave charles thompson

orsini was the name of the -ss-ssin who attempted the life of napoleon in.
legends august strindberg

she essayed to introduce gracie; not one of them attempted a bow.
ester ried yet speaking isabella alden

such chartings as we have attempted have been of these living waters.
charities and the commons: the pittsburgh survey, part i: the people various

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.