First Known Use: 1562
Dictionary
1attack
verb at·tack \ə-ˈtak\
: to act violently against (someone or something) : to try to hurt, injure, or destroy (something or someone)
: to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh and severe way
: to begin to work on or deal with (something, such as a problem) in a determined and eager way
Full Definition of ATTACK
transitive verb
1
: to set upon or work against forcefully
2
: to assail with unfriendly or bitter words
3
: to begin to affect or to act on injuriously <plants attacked by aphids>
4
: to set to work on <attack a problem>
5
: to threaten (a piece in chess) with immediate capture
intransitive verb
: to make an attack
— at·tack·er noun
See attack defined for English-language learners
See attack defined for kids
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Origin of ATTACK
Middle French attaquer, from Old Italian *estaccare to attach, from stacca stake, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English staca
Related to ATTACK
- Synonyms
- assail, assault, beset, bushwhack, charge, descend (on or upon), go in (on), jump (on), pounce (on or upon), raid, rush, set on, sic (also sick), storm, strike, trash, turn (on), beat up on, fly at, go at, light into, pitch into, round on, set at, set upon, tear into, beat up on, light into, sail into, tie into, go at, have at, light into, pitch into, sail into, tear into
Synonym Discussion of ATTACK
attack, assail, assault, bombard, storm mean to make an onslaught upon. attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle <plan to attack the town at dawn>. assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots <assailed the enemy with artillery fire>. assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught <commandos assaulted the building from all sides>. bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells <bombarded the city nightly>. storm implies attempting to break into a defended position <preparing to storm the fortress>.
Rhymes with ATTACK
aback, ack-ack, alack, amtrac, Anzac, arrack, backpack, backtrack, Balzac, bareback, blackjack, blowback, bootblack, bootjack, brushback, bushwhack, buyback, callback, calpac, carjack, champac, cheapjack, coatrack, come back, comeback, cookshack, crackback, crookback, cut back, cutback, Dayak, dieback, Dirac, draw back, drawback, fall back, fallback, fastback, fast-track, fatback, feedback, finback, fireback, flapjack, flashback, fullback, gimcrack, giveback, graywacke, greenback, gripsack, guaiac, halfback, half-track, hardback, hardhack, hardtack, hatchback, hayrack, haystack, hijack, hogback, hold back, holdback, hopsack, horseback, humpback, hunchback, Iraq, jam-pack, jet-black, Kanak, Karnak, kayak, Kazak, kickback, knapsack, knickknack, kulak, kyack, laid-back, lampblack, leaseback, linac, macaque, man jack, manpack, Micmac, mossback, muntjac, Muzak, notchback, offtrack, one-track, outback, packsack, payback, pitch-black, play back, playback, plow back, plowback, Prozac, pullback, quillback, racetrack, ransack, rickrack, roll back, rollback, roorback, rucksack, runback, sad sack, scatback, serac, set back, setback, shellac, shellback, shoeblack, shoepac, sidetrack, six-pack, skewback, skipjack, skyjack, slapjack, slotback, Slovak, smokejack, smokestack, snap back, snapback, snowpack, softback, sumac, swayback, sweepback, swept-back, switchback, tailback, tarmac, thornback, throw back, throwback, thumbtack, ticktack, tieback, tie tack, tombac, touchback, tow sack, trictrac, tripack, unpack, wetback, whaleback, wingback, wisecrack, wolf pack, woolpack, woolsack, yashmak, zwieback
2attack
noun
: a violent, harmful, or destructive act against someone or something
: harmful or destructive action against something by a disease, insect, chemical, etc.
: an attempt by a military force to defeat an enemy : a military offensive
Full Definition of ATTACK
2
: a belligerent or antagonistic action
3
a : a fit of sickness; especially : an active episode of a chronic or recurrent disease b : a period of being strongly affected by something (as a desire or mood)
4
a : an offensive or scoring action <won the game with an 8-hit attack> b : offensive players or the positions taken up by them
5
: the setting to work on some undertaking <made a new attack on the problem>
6
: the beginning of destructive action (as by a chemical agent)
7
: the act or manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
See attack defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ATTACK
1655
3attack
adjective
: designed for or used in a military attack
Full Definition of ATTACK
: designed, planned, or used for carrying out a military attack <an attack helicopter>
See attack defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ATTACK
1899
ATTACKING Defined for Kids
1attack
verb at·tack \ə-ˈtak\
at·tackedat·tack·ing
Definition of ATTACK for Kids
1
: to take strong action against : try to hurt, injure, or destroy <Troops attacked the fortress at dawn.>
2
: to use harsh words against : criticize harshly <People attacked the plan as being too complicated.>
3
: to begin to affect or to act upon harmfully <A disease attacked our crops.>
4
: to start to work on in a determined and eager way <She attacked the problem.>
— at·tack·er noun
2attack
noun
Definition of ATTACK for Kids
1
: a violent, harmful, or destructive act against someone or something <a shark attack>
2
: strong criticism <a verbal attack>
3
: the setting to work on some undertaking <They made a new attack on the problem.>
4
: a sudden short period of suffering from an illness or of being affected by a strong emotion <an asthma attack> <an attack of nerves>
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