🏃 A try 🏃 To try 🔫 A try to harm

to attempt

∞ 1.3

To try to do something that is difficult or new

verb
/əˈtɛmpt/

: intentar

She decided to attempt a difficult climb despite her fears.
attempt to understand
attempt to address
attempt to fill

Well, then why couldn't I attempt something lesser?

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Examples

All right, I'm going to attempt to turn this on.
So I am going to attempt to make a hammer.

Adam Savage’s Tested
All right, let me attempt my screen share.
And then again next month I will attempt another series.
I hope you read it and understand us better, as we attempt to understand you.

Academic text (2011)
For your sake, I would attempt anything.

Francis of Assisi (1961)
We're going to go back to the beach, attempt to surf again.
And now I'm going to attempt to draw a shell.
In short, I'm going to attempt to do vlogmas this year.
I am going to attempt to clip Dobby's nails.

Synonyms

to try

vsto attempt

∞ 1.0

To make an effort to do something difficult

is the same meaning and use according to the descriptions

to go for

vsto attempt

272 2.5

To try to get something you want by making an effort

is broader, applying to efforts beyond only goal obtaining

to give it a try

vsto attempt

102 1.7

Try something for the first time to see if you like it

is used for difficult or new challenges rather than only first tests

to try for

vsto attempt

76 3.1

Make a strong effort to get something you want

is the general word for efforts at difficult or new things, not only determined goals

to take a shot at

vsto attempt

Informal

45 3.7

To try to do something even when success is uncertain

is used for difficult or unfamiliar actions, not only risky cases

to have a go

vsto attempt

33 4.3

Try doing something, often for the first time

is applied to difficult actions as well as initial efforts

to bid

vsto attempt

23 2.9

To try to get an important job or position

is used for any effort, including small or informal ones

to take a crack at

vsto attempt

Informal

16 4.9

To try to do something, often for the first time

covers efforts at difficult or new actions, not only quick initial efforts

to have a go at

vsto attempt

11 3.4

To try doing something you have not done before

is used for difficult or new tasks, not only uncertain efforts

to make a go of

vsto attempt

11 4.1

To try to make a business or relationship succeed

refers to single efforts at difficult or new tasks, not long projects

to take a stab at

vsto attempt

Informal

10 5.3

To try to do something when you are not sure you will succeed

focuses on general efforts to achieve difficult or new aims

to essay

vsto attempt

Formal

1 7.7

To try something in a careful, experimental way

is the common term for efforts at difficult or new activities

to assay

vsto attempt

Archaic

1 9.9

To try to do something in a careful, unsure way

is the ordinary, general word for making efforts at hard or new tasks

to have a stab at

vsto attempt

1 5.3

To try to do something when you are not sure you will succeed

is applied to determined efforts at difficult or new goals

to give a go

vsto attempt

1 4.1

To try something, especially something new

is used more broadly for difficult tasks as well as new ones

to give a try

vsto attempt

1 1.6

To do something new to see if you can do it

focuses more on hard challenges beyond initial efforts

to make a fist of

vsto attempt

8.2

Try hard to do a difficult task and succeed a little

is neutral about success and covers any initial effort

Antonyms

to give up

∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

to refrain

87 4.2

Choose not to do something you want to do

Compounds

first attempt

23 1.9

A first try to do something new

last-ditch attempt

3 5.8

A final effort you make when nothing else works

takeover attempt

Jargon

1 4.2

An effort to gain control of a company by buying enough shares

amateurish attempt

1 5.2

An effort that shows little skill and looks unprofessional

patzerish attempt

Jargon

9.9

A clumsy try by someone with little skill, often in games like chess

wokewash attempt

Texting

9.9

An action that only looks like support for social justice but does not help

How Determined

to struggle

851 2.8

to strive

156 3.7

to endeavor

32 5.2

to attempt

∞ 1.3

to try

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

attempt infinitive

attempted past

attempted past participle

attempting present participle

attempts third person singular

Morphology

attempt = tempt (opaque) = at + tempt

Although formed from 'at-' + 'tempt', modern 'tempt' usually means 'entice', so learners cannot reliably infer 'attempt' = 'try' from 'tempt'.

Etymology

Attempt as a verb comes from a root that meant 'to test' and is related to tempt, which used to mean 'to try'. So to attempt something is to 'try' or test whether you can do it, especially if it is hard.