attack
The soldiers prepared to attack the enemy base at dawn.
The soldiers got ready to begin a violent assault on the enemy's stronghold.
to use violence or force to try to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something
The army will attack the city at nightfall.
The military plans to launch a violent assault on the city when it gets dark.
She attacked the problem with determination.
She approached the problem aggressively, determined to solve it.
Can be used literally (physical violence) or figuratively (e.g., attacking a problem).
a violent act intended to hurt or damage someone or something
The city suffered a surprise attack during the night.
The city was violently assaulted without warning overnight.
The team's attack was unstoppable in the second half.
The team's aggressive offensive strategy dominated the second half of the game.
In sports, refers to the offensive strategy or players responsible for scoring.
to criticize someone strongly or write/say something harmful about them
The newspaper attacked the politician's policies.
The newspaper published a harsh critique of the politician's policies.
Often used in journalism or debate contexts.
to begin to affect someone in a harmful or unpleasant way
The infection attacked his immune system.
The infection began to damage his immune system severely.
Common in medical contexts describing diseases or conditions worsening.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish between 'attack' and 'assault'
'Attack' is more general and can refer to physical violence, verbal criticism, or strategic actions. 'Assault' typically refers specifically to physical violence or a sudden violent attack. Example: 'The army launched an attack' (general) vs. 'He was charged with assault' (specific physical violence).
Gold Rule
Context determines meaning
Always check whether 'attack' is used literally (violence), figuratively (problem-solving), or in a specialized field (medicine, sports, computing). The context will guide the correct interpretation.
Avoid confusion with 'heart attack'
'Heart attack' is a medical term referring to a cardiac event, not an act of violence. It is a fixed collocation and should not be confused with the general meaning of 'attack.'
Word Origin
From Old French 'atac' (12th century), meaning 'a strike or blow,' derived from Frankish *attakōn 'touch, attack,' ultimately from Proto-Germanic *atakōną 'to touch, reach.' The verb sense emerged in Middle English around the 14th century.
Usage Notes
The word can be used in both literal (physical violence) and figurative (e.g., attacking a problem or criticizing someone) contexts. In sports, it specifically refers to offensive strategies. In computing, 'cyber attack' is a common collocation.