2attempt noun
plural attempts [count] 1 : an act of trying to do something
▪ In an attempt [=effort] to raise money, the school will begin charging admission to school concerts. ▪ She failed her driving test on the first attempt but she succeeded on her second attempt. ▪ We both made an attempt [=tried] to be friendly despite recent arguments. ▪ He made no attempt to apologize. [=he did not try to apologize] ▪ It was a successful attempt at climbing Mount Everest. = It was a successful attempt on Mount Everest. ◊Attempt often suggests that the effort made was unsuccessful.
▪ a suicide attempt ▪ an assassination attempt 2 : something that results from trying to do something
▪ Her attempt at a home-cooked meal consisted of frozen fish sticks and a can of soup.
▪ In an attempt [=effort] to raise money, the school will begin charging admission to school concerts. ▪ She failed her driving test on the first attempt but she succeeded on her second attempt. ▪ We both made an attempt [=tried] to be friendly despite recent arguments. ▪ He made no attempt to apologize. [=he did not try to apologize] ▪ It was a successful attempt at climbing Mount Everest. = It was a successful attempt on Mount Everest. ◊Attempt often suggests that the effort made was unsuccessful.
▪ a suicide attempt ▪ an assassination attempt
▪ Her attempt at a home-cooked meal consisted of frozen fish sticks and a can of soup.
an attempt on someone's life
: an act of trying to kill someone : a usually unsuccessful effort to kill someone
▪ Police report that there has been an attempt on the actor's life. ▪ Someone made an attempt on her life. [=someone tried to kill her]
▪ Police report that there has been an attempt on the actor's life. ▪ Someone made an attempt on her life. [=someone tried to kill her]
