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attempt

noun [C]
 
 
/əˈtempt/

Definition

B2 the act of trying to do something, especially something difficult: [+ to infinitive] She made a few half-hearted attempts to join in their conversation. He made no attempt to be sociable. This is my second attempt at the exam. None of our attempts at contacting Dr James was successful. They closed the road in an attempt (= to try to) to reduce traffic in the city.Trying and making an effortEffort and expending energy an attempt on sb's life an act of trying to kill someone: This is the third attempt on the president's life.Murder and attempted murderKilling
(Definition of attempt noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
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