Attempt vs Try

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

Attempt

Top 2,000 (common) B2 noun

Try

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 verb

Most common: Try

	Attempt	Try
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əˈtempt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˈtempt/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/traɪ/","/traɪz/","/traɪd/","/ˈtraɪɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/traɪ/","/traɪz/","/traɪd/","/ˈtraɪɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To try to do something.	to make an effort to do something
Example	Her attempt to climb the mountain was met with several challenges.	I will try my best to finish the project on time.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	A1
Part of speech	noun	verb
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	desperately, frantically, furiously, decide to, dare (somebody) to, bother to, be just trying to do something, be only trying to do something, give up trying, desperately, frantically, furiously, decide to, dare (somebody) to, bother to, be just trying to do something, be only trying to do something, give up trying
Antonyms	abandon, give up, quit	give up, quit, avoid
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).	Using 'try' with a noun instead of a verb (e.g., 'try a bike' instead of 'try riding a bike'), Confusing 'try' with 'test' — 'try' suggests effort, while 'test' implies evaluation, Using 'try' without context, making the intention unclear
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 'try' when suggesting attempts. It's suitable for informal and formal settings. Avoid using it with absolute outcomes, as it conveys effort rather than guarantee.

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

Agent Carter › S1 E1

I try not to be,

Breaking Bad › S1 E4

and try to counteract that.

Breaking Bad › S1 E5

Ahem. Um, hey, did you try those prosciutto-wrapped figs?

Agent Carter › S1 E1

I try not to be,

Breaking Bad › S1 E4

and try to counteract that.

Try

Frequently asked questions: Attempt vs Try

What's the difference between Attempt and Try?

Attempt: To try to do something. Try: to make an effort to do something

Which is more common: Attempt and Try?

Try is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Attempt and Try?

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

Are Attempt and Try the same CEFR level?

Attempt: B2, Try: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Attempt and Try?

Attempt: noun, Try: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Attempt: Her attempt to climb the mountain was met with several challenges. Try: I will try my best to finish the project on time.

Can I use Attempt and Try interchangeably?

Not always. Attempt and Try 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.