# attacking

/əˈtækɪŋ/ (US) · /ɐtˈækɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/attacking
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical aggression

verb · CEFR A2

trying to hurt someone or something with physical force.

For teachers: the act of using physical violence or force against a person, place, or entity.

- The guards were attacking the castle gates with heavy tools.
- Witnesses reported seeing the group attacking the storefront during the riot, though the police arrived before any serious damage occurred.

### 2. in sports

verb · CEFR B1

trying to score points or goals in a game.

For teachers: the act of moving forward or playing aggressively to score against an opponent.

- Our team spent the whole second half attacking the other team's goal.
- By attacking the wings rather than the centre, the team managed to bypass the opponent's dense defensive line.

### 3. tackling a problem

verb · CEFR B2

starting to deal with a difficult task with a lot of energy.

For teachers: addressing a problem, task, or situation with vigorous or determined effort.

- She is attacking her pile of homework so she can go out later.
- The research team is attacking the data from several different angles to ensure the final conclusion is robust.

### 4. offensive role

adjective · CEFR B1

describing a person or group that is trying to score or win.

For teachers: characterising a player, position, or strategy focused on offensive action rather than defence.

- The coach put more attacking players on the field to try and win the game.
- The manager's attacking philosophy was evident in the way the full-backs were encouraged to push high up the pitch.

## Examples

- The army is attacking the city from the north.
- The home team spent the entire second half attacking the goal but failed to score.
- By attacking the problem from a different angle, the engineers discovered a structural flaw that had previously gone unnoticed during the initial testing phase.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.