NYT Dictionary

ATTEMPT

/əˈtɛmpt/
VerbNounat-TEMPTat-tempt · 2 syllablesGrade 4

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

To try.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Latin temptō Latin attemptōder. Old French atempterbor. Middle English attempten English attempt Late 14th century, as Middle English attempten, from Old French atempter, from Latin attemptō (“to try, solicit”), from ad- (“to”) + temptō; see tempt. The noun is from the 1530s, the sense "an assault on somebody's life, assassination attempt" (French attentat) is from 1580. By surface analysis, at- + tempt.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

take a stab attake a run atassayessayseekefforttrybidendeavorendeavour

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 8 recorded puzzles:

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