attempt

About 67.14 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To try.

   to attempt an escape from prison

2. verb To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt.
3. verb To try to win, subdue, or overcome.

   one who attempts the virtue of a woman

4. verb To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force.

   to attempt the enemy’s camp

5. verb To make a substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime).
6. noun The action of trying at something. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}

   We made an attempt to cross the stream, but didn’t manage.

7. noun An assault or attack, especially an assassination attempt.
8. noun A substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime).

Similar words

try assay endeavour endeavor seek set about undertake effort attack essay

Often followed by

to at was is by of has on a

Word family

attemptable attempted attempting attempts made an attempt