- [countable, uncountable] an act of using violence to try to hurt or kill somebody
- Five people were killed in the attacks that took place last night.
- attack on/upon somebody/something the recent series of deadly terrorist attacks on European cities
- a violent attack upon a police officer
- attack against somebody vicious attacks against defenceless people
- attack by somebody/something A child is recovering in hospital after a serious attack by a stray dog.
Extra ExamplesTopics Crime and punishmenta2- He was subjected to a violent attack.
- Two teenagers carried out a frenzied attack on a local shopkeeper.
- Where did the attack happen?
- an attack by an armed gang
- an increase in knife attacks on police officers
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brutal
- frenzied
- horrific
- …
- series
- spate
- wave
- …
- carry out
- be subjected to
- block
- …
- happen
- occur
- take place
- …
- attack against
- attack by
- attack on
- …
- a victim of an attack
- [countable, uncountable] an act of trying to kill or injure the enemy in war, using weapons such as guns and bombs
- a bomb/rocket/missile attack
- attack on somebody/something Rebel forces launched an attack on civilian targets.
- attack against somebody/something Commanders attempted to prevent an attack against the city.
- under attack (from somebody/something) The patrol came under attack from all sides.
Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a warsee also counter-attack- declare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)
- go to war (against/with somebody)
- cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
- incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
- launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
- prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
- be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
- enter/invade/occupy somebody’s territory
- lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
- carry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres
- send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
- go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
- train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
- lead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)
- employ/use guerrilla tactics
- conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
- fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
- suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
- achieve/win a decisive victory
- halt/stop the British/German/Russian advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the army/navy/air force
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- serve/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
- call for/be met with armed resistance
- come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
- fire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
- shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
- launch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
- use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
- inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
- be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
- become/be held as a prisoner of war
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
- cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
- impose/enforce/lift a curfew
- engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
- be sent to an internment/a concentration camp
- accept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from war
- fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
- commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
- call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
- sign a ceasefire agreement
- call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
- demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
- establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
- negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty
Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflicta2- Bombers pressed home their attack, causing severe damage to harbour installations.
- Most of the population would stand little chance of surviving a nuclear attack.
- The administration may launch a pre-emptive attack against terrorist bases.
- The attack took place under cover of darkness.
- The border towns have suffered a series of attacks.
- The soldiers mounted an all-out attack on the town.
- They came under sustained attack from the air.
- an attack on enemy positions
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- all-out
- full-scale
- major
- …
- series
- carry out
- launch
- lead
- …
- come
- happen
- occur
- …
- under attack
- attack against
- attack by
- …
- [countable] a sudden, short period of illness, usually severe
- to suffer an asthma attack
- attack of something an attack of fever
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- acute
- sudden
- bad
- …
- experience
- have
- suffer
- …
- happen
- occur
- take place
- …
- attack of
- [countable] a sudden period of feeling an emotion such as fear
- a panic attack
- attack of something an attack of nerves
- He suffers from attacks of anxiety.
- (figurative) an attack of conscience (= a guilty feeling about something you have done or are planning to do)
- (figurative) an attack of the giggles
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- acute
- sudden
- bad
- …
- experience
- have
- suffer
- …
- happen
- occur
- take place
- …
- attack of
- [countable, uncountable] strong criticism of somebody/something in speech or in writing
- He found himself the victim of an unprovoked attack by the media.
- She has laid herself wide open to attack.
- attack on somebody/something It was seen as a personal attack on the president.
- under attack (from somebody/something) (for something/for doing something) The school has come under attack for failing to encourage bright students.
- Doctors have gone on the attack, accusing the government of incompetence.
Extra Examples- The government's decision has provoked an attack from leaders of the health service.
- The first line of attack is often name-calling.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bitter
- blistering
- devastating
- …
- deliver
- go on the
- launch
- …
- attack on
- attack upon
- a/the line of attack
- open to attack
- [singular] (British English) (North American English offense)the players in a team whose job is to try to score goals or points
- Germany's attack has been weakened by the loss of some key players through injury.
- [countable, uncountable] attack (on something) the actions that players take to try to score a goal or win the game
- a sustained attack on the Arsenal goal
- [countable] attack (on something) an action that you take to try to stop or change something that you feel is bad
- to launch an all-out attack on poverty/unemployment
- [uncountable, countable] the action of something such as an insect, or a disease, that causes damage to something/somebody
- The roof timbers were affected by rot and insect attack.
violence
in war
of illness
of emotion
criticism
in sport
action to stop something
damage
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from French attaque (noun), attaquer (verb), from Italian attacco ‘an attack’, attaccare ‘join battle’, based on an element of Germanic origin (see attach).
Check pronunciation:
attack