"She made a valiant attempt to fix the leak before calling for help."
In plain English: An attempt is when you try to do something but don't necessarily succeed.
"She decided to give another attempt at fixing the leaky faucet before calling a plumber."
Usage: Use "attempt" as a noun to refer to a single effort or try made to accomplish something, such as an attempt to fix the car. It often implies that success was not guaranteed or achieved during that specific instance.
"She made an attempt to climb the ladder before giving up due to her fear of heights."
In plain English: To try to do something but not necessarily succeed.
"She decided to attempt the difficult puzzle alone."
Usage: Use "attempt" as a verb to indicate that you have tried to do something, regardless of whether you succeeded. It often implies an effort toward a difficult or challenging task rather than a casual try.
Example Sentences
"She decided to give another attempt at fixing the leaky faucet before calling a plumber."noun
"He made one final attempt to fix the leaky faucet before calling a plumber."noun
"The judge rejected their legal attempt at delaying the trial indefinitely."noun
"Her best attempt at cooking dinner turned out slightly burnt but still edible."noun
"She decided to attempt the difficult puzzle alone."verb
The word "attempt" entered English in the 1530s to mean a trial or effort, but by 1580 it had shifted to describe an assault on someone's life or an assassination plot. This specific violent sense was borrowed from the French word attentat.