# attempted

/əˈtɛmptɪd/ (US) · /ɐtˈɛmptɪd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. tried but failed

adjective · CEFR B1

describing an action that someone tried to do but failed to complete.

For teachers: describing an action or crime that was initiated but not successfully completed; often used in legal or formal contexts.

- The police are investigating an attempted robbery at the local bank.
- The attempted coup was thwarted by loyalist forces before the rebels could seize the national broadcasting headquarters.

## Examples

- She attempted to fix the broken chair herself.
- The rescue team attempted to reach the stranded hikers before the storm intensified.
- Although the scientists attempted to replicate the original results under controlled conditions, the initial findings remained elusive, suggesting a flaw in the primary methodology.

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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.