attempt
To try.
Verb 2 meanings
To try.
“to attempt an escape from prison”
To make a substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime).
Noun 4 meanings
The action of trying at something.
“We made an attempt to cross the stream, but didn’t manage.”
An assault or attack, especially an assassination attempt.
A substantial but unsuccessful effort (to commit a crime).
An act of trying to commit suicide
“Her attempt was not successful, and resulted in her being hospitalized.”
Etymology
Late 14th century, as Middle English attempten, from Old French atempter, from Latin attemptō (“to try, solicit”), from ad- (“to”) + temptō; see tempt. The noun is from the 1530s, the sense "an assault on somebody's life, assassination attempt" (French attentat) is from 1580. By surface analysis, at- + tempt.
Similar and opposite words
ATTEMPT at a glance
ATTEMPT has 7 letters and scores 11 points in Scrabble (A 1 + T 1 + T 1 + E 1 + M 3 + P 3 + T 1) and 13 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #1,434 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with attempt
All rhymes- PROMPT12
- EXEMPT17
- CONTEMPT14
- TEMPT9
- UNKEMPT15
- PREEMPT13
- EMPT8
- KEMPT13
- NONEXEMPT20
- VERKLEMPT20
- COMPT11
- ACCOMPT15
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