English Meaning & Definitions
To take aggressive action against an enemy or opponent, or to criticize someone or something strongly.
- “The army prepared to attack the enemy stronghold at dawn.”
- “The editorial attacked the government's new economic policy.”
An aggressive and violent action against a person or place, or a sudden onset of a disease or condition.
- “The city suffered a devastating air attack during the night.”
- “He was rushed to the hospital after suffering a sudden heart attack.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “attack”.
Derived from the French 'attaquer', which evolved from the Old Italian 'attaccare' (to attach, fasten, or join battle). It entered English in the 17th century, shifting from the sense of 'fastening onto' someone to the more aggressive sense of 'assaulting'.
Think of a 'tack' (the sharp nail); if you step on one, it is an 'attack' on your foot.
Frequently Asked Questions About “attack”
1. What is the meaning of “attack” in English?
In English, attack (verb) is defined as: “To take aggressive action against an enemy or opponent, or to criticize someone or something strongly.”.
2. How do you use “attack” in a sentence?
“The army prepared to attack the enemy stronghold at dawn.”
3. What are English synonyms of “attack”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “attack”?
Derived from the French 'attaquer', which evolved from the Old Italian 'attaccare' (to attach, fasten, or join battle). It entered English in the 17th century, shifting from the sense of 'fastening onto' someone to the more aggressive sense of 'assaulting'.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.