attempt to vs Attempt at

Both 'attempt to' and 'attempt at' are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Attempt to' is used when talking about the action or effort to do something, while 'attempt at' is used when referring to the specific thing being attempted.

Explained by Jennifer
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: March 15, 2025 • 6012 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"attempt to"

Use 'attempt to' when talking about the action or effort to do something. It is followed by a verb.

Examples:

She will attempt to climb the mountain.
He attempted to fix the broken machine.
They are attempting to finish the project on time.

Show examples from the web [+]

6 days ago ... Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Millions of 2020 tax returns remain unprocessed — and that can create trouble as people attempt to file ...
5 days ago ... He made no attempt to be sociable. This is my second attempt at the exam. None of our attempts at contacting ...
Feb 11, 2022 ... How the Biden administration is aggressively releasing intelligence in an attempt to deter Russia. By Katie Bo Lillis, Natasha Bertrand and ...
7 days ago ... Trudeau invokes rare emergency powers in attempt to quell protests. Emergencies Act gives government broad powers for 30 days, ...
Feb 6, 2022 ... Mike McDaniel hire is Dolphins' latest attempt to resurrect their offense. play. Why the Dolphins picked Mike McDaniel as their head coach ...
Attempt to commit crime—Any person who shall attempt to commit an offense prohibited by law, and in such attempt shall do any act towards the commission of ...
The defendant is charged with (attempted) (an attempt to) ______. To prove that the defendant is guilty of this offense, the Commonwealth.

Alternatives:

try to
strive to
endeavor to
aim to
seek to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Attempt at"

Use 'attempt at' when referring to the specific thing being attempted. It is followed by a noun or noun phrase.

Some examples from our editors:

His attempt at painting was a disaster.
The team made an attempt at winning the championship.
She made an attempt at baking a cake.

Show examples from the web [+]

If the next word isn't a verb, at is needed: It was my first attempt at it. No rule says you can't have at + gerund instead of the infinitive, but I think it's less common.
1) Charles Lindbergh, for his attempt at a solo transatlantic flight, was very reluctant to have any extra weight on his plane, he therefore refused to carry even a ...
They made no attempt to escape. attempt at something/at doing something The couple made an unsuccessful attempt at a compromise. 2 [countable] attempt (on ...
... driving test on the first attempt but she succeeded on her second attempt. Her attempt at a home-cooked meal consisted of frozen fish sticks and a can of soup.

Some alternatives from our editors:

effort to
try at
shot at
stab at
crack at

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attempt to vs Attempt at

"attempt to"

"Attempt at"

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