attempt
verb/əˈtempt/
/əˈtempt/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they attempt | /əˈtempt/ /əˈtempt/ |
| he / she / it attempts | /əˈtempts/ /əˈtempts/ |
| past simple attempted | /əˈtemptɪd/ /əˈtemptɪd/ |
| past participle attempted | /əˈtemptɪd/ /əˈtemptɪd/ |
| -ing form attempting | /əˈtemptɪŋ/ /əˈtemptɪŋ/ |
- to make an effort or try to do something, especially something difficult
- attempt to do something I will attempt to answer all your questions.
- She never attempted to explain her behaviour to her family.
- She has been unsuccessfully attempting to find out the name of the police officer.
- I haven't even attempted to do any of this yet.
- Do not attempt to repair this yourself.
- attempt something The prisoners attempted an escape, but failed.
Extra Examples- Don't attempt to argue with him.
- The patient may attempt to dismiss or deny the problem.
- The coastguard had advised them not to attempt a rescue.
- A group of junior army officers attempted a coup in March.
- He revealed that he had once attempted suicide.
More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitivesVerbs usually followed by infinitivesWord Originlate Middle English: from Old French attempter, from Latin attemptare, from ad- ‘to’ + temptare ‘to tempt’.Definitions on the go
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attempt