Attempt vs Effort

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Attempt

Top 2,000 (common) B2 noun

Effort

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 noun

Most common: Effort

	Attempt	Effort
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əˈtempt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˈtempt/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈefət/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈefərt/"]/
Meaning	To try to do something.	The work you put into something to achieve a goal.
Example	Her attempt to climb the mountain was met with several challenges.	She put a lot of effort into her painting to make it perfect.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	B1
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	successful, abortive, botched, make, succeed in, abandon, succeed, fail, in an/​the attempt, attempt at, attempt by, an attempt on somebody’s life, at the first, second, etc. attempt, in the first, second, etc. attempt, successful, abortive, botched, make, succeed in, abandon, succeed, fail, in an/​the attempt, attempt at, attempt by, an attempt on somebody’s life, at the first, second, etc. attempt, in the first, second, etc. attempt	ambitious, big, enormous, make, initiate, launch, come to nothing, fail, fall flat, in an/​your effort, through somebody’s effort, your best efforts, a reward for your efforts, make every effort, considerable, hard, constant, amount, demand, need, require, go into, with effort, without effort, a great deal of effort, time and effort
Antonyms	abandon, give up, quit	laziness, apathy, indifference
Common mistakes	'Attempted to' is often confused with 'tried to'., Learners sometimes use 'attempt' without an object, which is incorrect., Confusion between 'attempt' (to try) and 'achieve' (to succeed).	Confused with 'effortless'; don't assume effort means easy., Using 'effort' as a verb; it is only a noun., Misplacing 'effort' in a sentence, leading to awkward phrasing.
Usage notes	Use 'attempt' when referring to trying to achieve something, especially when the outcome is uncertain. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts but may sound a bit formal in casual conversation.	Use in both formal and informal settings. Avoid slang or overly casual contexts when discussing serious topics like work or study.

See it in real clips

those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers.

The Pitt › S1 E1

- LMA in place. - Suicide attempt?

Top Gear › S1 E1

Final attempt at this. We've been trying to prove

those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers.

The Pitt › S1 E1

- LMA in place. - Suicide attempt?

Attempt

here's a little something for the effort.

Sherlock › S1 E1

It took effort, it would have hurt.

Succession › S1 E1

But it was a really good effort.

here's a little something for the effort.

Sherlock › S1 E1

It took effort, it would have hurt.

Effort

Frequently asked questions: Attempt vs Effort

What's the difference between Attempt and Effort?

Attempt: To try to do something. Effort: The work you put into something to achieve a goal.

Which is more common: Attempt and Effort?

Effort is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Attempt and Effort?

Attempt is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Attempt and Effort the same CEFR level?

Attempt: B2, Effort: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Attempt and Effort?

Attempt: noun, Effort: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Attempt: Her attempt to climb the mountain was met with several challenges. Effort: She put a lot of effort into her painting to make it perfect.

Can I use Attempt and Effort interchangeably?

Not always. Attempt and Effort are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.