attempt
gb/ətˈɛmpt/ us/ətˈɛmpt/
A2
English
~ 1100
megpróbál, próbálkozás, kísérlet, támadás, gyilkossági kísérlet, merénylet
VERB
A2
1
megpróbál
A2
Usage pattern:
to attempt [to do something]
She attempted to climb the mountain despite the bad weather.
A rossz idő ellenére megpróbálta megmászni a hegyet.
The company is attempting to reduce waste in its production process.
A vállalat megpróbálja csökkenteni a termelési folyamata során keletkező hulladékot.
He attempted to explain the problem, but she didn’t understand.
They attempted to break the world record.
I will attempt to answer all your questions.
Learner examples
I will attempt to help you.
Megpróbálok segíteni neked.
She attempted to open the door.
Megpróbálta kinyitni az ajtót.
We attempted to cross the river.
He attempted to fix the car.
They attempted to find the lost dog.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'attempt' with 'tempt'. 'Attempt' means 'try', while 'tempt' means 'attract or encourage someone to do something'.
Meaning
Make an effort to do something
Collocations
attempt to escape
|attempt to solve
|attempt to explain
|attempt to climb
|attempt to rescue
Synonyms
try (More common and less formal than 'attempt'.)
|
undertake (More formal; often used for planned or serious efforts.)
Antonyms
avoid (Means to stay away from doing something instead of trying it.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To try to do something, often difficult.
To make an effort to achieve or complete something, often with no guarantee of success.
NOUN
A2
2
próbálkozás
B1
kísérlet
B1
Usage pattern:
an attempt [to do something]
This is my third attempt at baking bread.
Ez már a harmadik próbálkozásom a kenyérsütéssel.
The rescue attempt was called off due to bad weather.
A mentési kísérletet a rossz idő miatt lefújták.
She made no attempt to hide her feelings.
His first attempt failed, but he kept trying.
The attempt to reach an agreement was unsuccessful.
Learner examples
This is my first attempt at painting.
Ez az első festési próbálkozásom.
He made an attempt to run faster.
Kísérletet tett arra, hogy gyorsabban fusson.
We made an attempt to win the game.
Her attempt was not successful.
They made an attempt to fix the bike.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes forget that 'attempt' as a noun often needs an article ('an attempt', 'the attempt').
Meaning
An effort to achieve something
Collocations
make an attempt
|first attempt
|failed attempt
|serious attempt
|final attempt
Synonyms
effort (Slightly less formal; emphasizes the energy used.)
|
endeavor (More formal and literary than 'attempt'.)
Antonyms
refusal (Means choosing not to try at all.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An act of trying to do something.
An act of trying to accomplish or achieve something, often without certainty of success.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
an attempt [on someone's life]
Police are investigating an assassination attempt on the mayor.
A rendőrség nyomoz a polgármester elleni merényletkísérlet ügyében.
He survived an attempt on his life last year.
Tavaly túlélt egy ellene elkövetett merényletet.
The suspect was charged with attempted robbery.
Her suicide attempt shocked her friends and family.
Learner examples
The police stopped the murder attempt.
A rendőrség meghiúsította a gyilkossági kísérletet.
He made an attempt on her life.
Az életére tört.
She survived a suicide attempt.
The assassination attempt failed.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the more general sense of 'trying'. Context about harm or danger is essential here.
Meaning
Effort to harm or kill someone/something
Collocations
assassination attempt
|murder attempt
|suicide attempt
|attempt on his life
Synonyms
attack (More general; not always a planned effort like 'attempt'.)
Antonyms
protection (The opposite action of keeping someone safe instead of trying to harm them.)
Themes
crime
|violence
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A try to hurt or kill a person, or damage something.
An act of trying to harm, kill, or damage someone or something.
Grammar
Dictionary form
attempt
IPA
GB/ətˈɛmpt/
US/ətˈɛmpt/
Syllables & stress
at - tempt (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tempt)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: attempt
- Plural: attempts
Verb
- Base: attempt
- 3rd Person Singular: attempts
- Present Participle: attempting
- Past: attempted
Word family
Forms
attempts
noun
attempting
verb
attempted
verb
Expressions
in an attempt to
1/ˈɪn ən ətˈɛmpt tə/
fixed phrase
As part of trying to do something
Used before saying what someone is trying to do.
Examples
- She spoke slowly in an attempt to help him understand.
- He left early in an attempt to avoid traffic.
make an attempt
2/mˈeɪk ən ətˈɛmpt/
fixed phrase
Try to do something once or for a first time
To try to do something, usually for the first time or as one effort.
Examples
- I will make an attempt to finish this by tonight.
- They made an attempt to fix the old computer, but it didn’t work.
attempted murder
3/ətˈɛmptɪd mˈɚdɚ/
fixed phrase
Crime of trying but failing to kill someone
A crime when someone tries but fails to kill another person.
Examples
- He was arrested for attempted murder after the attack.
- She was charged with attempted murder after attacking her neighbor.
- Attempted murder carries a long prison sentence.
- The suspect is facing an attempted murder charge.