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attack
[ uh-tak ]
verb (used with object)
- to set upon in a forceful, violent, hostile, or aggressive way, with or without a weapon; begin fighting with:
He attacked him with his bare hands.
Synonyms: ,
Antonyms:
- to begin hostilities against; start an offensive against:
to attack the enemy.
- to blame or abuse violently or bitterly.
- to direct unfavorable criticism against; criticize severely; argue with strongly:
He attacked his opponent's statement.
Synonyms: , , ,
Antonyms:
- to try to destroy, especially with verbal abuse:
to attack the mayor's reputation.
- to set about (a task) or go to work on (a thing) vigorously:
to attack housecleaning;
to attack the hamburger hungrily.
- (of disease, destructive agencies, etc.) to begin to affect.
verb (used without object)
- to make an attack; begin hostilities.
noun
- the act of attacking; onslaught; assault.
Synonyms: ,
Antonyms:
- a military offensive against an enemy or enemy position.
- Pathology. seizure by disease or illness:
an attack of indigestion.
- the beginning or initiating of any action; onset.
- an aggressive move in a performance or contest.
- the approach or manner of approach in beginning a musical phrase.
attack
/ əˈæ /
verb
- to launch a physical assault (against) with or without weapons; begin hostilities (with)
- intr to take the initiative in a game, sport, etc
after a few minutes, the team began to attack
- tr to direct hostile words or writings at; criticize or abuse vehemently
- tr to turn one's mind or energies vigorously to (a job, problem, etc)
- tr to begin to injure or affect adversely; corrode, corrupt, or infect
rust attacked the metal
- tr to attempt to rape
noun
- the act or an instance of attacking
- strong criticism or abuse
an unjustified attack on someone's reputation
- an offensive move in a game, sport, etc
- commencement of a task, etc
- any sudden and usually severe manifestation of a disease or disorder
a heart attack
an attack of indigestion
- the attackball games the players in a team whose main role is to attack the opponents' goal or territory
- music decisiveness in beginning a passage, movement, or piece
- music the speed with which a note reaches its maximum volume
- an attempted rape
Derived Forms
- ˈٲ, noun
- ˈٲ쾱Բ, adjective
- ˈٲ첹, adjective
Other Word Forms
- ·ٲa· adjective
- ·ٲİ noun
- ԴDza·ٲiԲ adjective
- Dza·ٲ adjective
- a·ٲ adjective
- a·ٲ verb
- un·ٲa· adjective
- ܲa·ٲ adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of attack1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
That thread included information about the exact timings of the air strikes as well as the weaponry being used, before the attack had taken place.
That's the question on many minds, after India suspended a major treaty governing water sharing of six rivers in the Indus basin between the two countries, following Tuesday's horrific attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Clippers found another gear, fielding a stingy defense and a balanced scoring attack that helped them build a 31-point lead en route to a convincing 117-83 win over the Nuggets on Thursday night.
The Israeli military launched its offensive on Gaza in response to Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023 that killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 251 people taken hostage.
I am really not convinced by Chelsea's attack at the moment, especially with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson so out of form.
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Related Words
More About Attack
is a basic definition of attack?
Attack means to attempt to inflict harm with physical violence, to attempt to inflict harm with words, or to initiate a military offensive against another. Attack has many other senses as a verb and a noun.
Attack means to engage in physical violence against something with the intent to cause physical harm, damage, or death. Attacking doesn’t have to result in harm, however. For example, a person may be attacked by bees but manage to escape before actually getting stung. Someone or something that attacks is an attacker.
- Real-life examples: A lion will attack with its claws and teeth. In the past, soldiers would attack each other with swords, axes, and other weapons. A scared person may attack a lamp thinking it is a burglar.
- Used in a sentence: Ashley relentlessly attacked the piñata with a broom handle.
Attack can also mean to try to harm someone verbally. In this sense, attack means to assault someone with criticism, insults, or harsh comments. The attempted harm would be to a person’s feelings, opinions, or arguments.
- Real-life examples: Politicians are often attacked by political opponents, critics, or even the media. Unfortunately, many people are often attacked by trolls and harassers on social media. Bad or unpopular ideas are often attacked for being impossible or foolish.
- Used in a sentence: The unpopular director was attacked on social media by fans of the movie franchise.
Attack is also used in both senses as a noun.
- Used in a sentence: I barely survived the alligator’s attack.
The company president was outraged by the reporter’s attack on his integrity.
Attack can also mean to initiate acts of war or begin a military offensive. This sense can also be used as a noun.
- Real-life examples: Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. In 1863, General Robert E. Lee attacked the Union army at Gettysburg during the American Civil War. At the Battle of Thermopylae, almost 7,000 Greek soldiers attempted to resist the Persians’ attack.
- Used in a sentence: The United Nations was outraged by the country’s unprovoked attack of its neighbor.
Where does attack come from?
The first records of the term attack come from around the 1590s. It comes from the Italian verb attaccare, meaning “to attack” or “to attach.”
Did you know ... ?
are some other forms related to attack?
- attacker (noun)
- attacking (adjective)
- nonattacking (adjective)
- attackable (adjective)
- postattack (adjective)
- proattack (adjective)
- reattack (verb)
- unattackable (adjective)
- unattacked (adjective)
are some synonyms for attack?
are some words that share a root or word element with attack?
are some words that often get used in discussing attack?
How is ٳٲused in real life?
Attack is a very common word that most often means to physically or verbally assault someone.
You guys, I got attacked by a dog yesterday. 😒🐶
— liz bizkit (@mylifeasliz_liz)
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has attacked the British government during a rare television interview
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak)
According to jihadi sources, protesters have attacked the British and German embassies in Khartoum, Sudan, hoisting an Al-Qaida banner.
— Evan Kohlmann (@IntelTweet)
Try using attack!
Is attack used correctly in the following sentence?
I attacked the fence with a sledgehammer until it was a pile of broken wood.
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