to attack
Third Person
attacks
Present Participle
attacking
Past Tense
attacked
Past Participle
attacked
1
to act violently against someone or something to try to harm them
- The predators in the wild often attack weaker members of the herd.
- He was attacked while walking home late at night.
- She was badly attacked by the mob, causing her severe injuries.
- The man attacked the officer with a knife, injuring him.
- He was attacked by a group of thieves and left with bruises.
2
to begin using weapons against a place or enemy during a war
transitive
- The military decided to attack the enemy stronghold under the cover of darkness.
- Right now, the special forces are actively attacking enemy positions in the mountainous region.
- The rebels planned to attack the government compound to gain control of the capital.
- Over the years, military strategies have occasionally attacked specific targets for strategic gains.
- The air force unexpectedly attacked the enemy's communication infrastructure.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
3
(in sports) to go forward and make an attempt to score a goal or point against an opponent
- The coach emphasized the importance of attacking with speed to catch the defense off guard.
- The team attacked relentlessly, searching for the opening goal.
- The team attacked with high intensity, making it difficult for the defense to react.
- After regaining possession, they attacked with precision and teamwork.
- As soon as the whistle blew, they began to attack, determined to take the lead.
4
to criticize someone for their actions or opinions
transitive
- The politician was attacked by the media for his controversial remarks.
- She attacked her colleague’s proposal during the meeting, calling it poorly thought out.
- The reviewer attacked the movie for its weak storyline and poor acting.
- Many public figures have been attacked for their stance on climate change.
- The author was attacked online after expressing an unpopular opinion.
5
to cause damage or negative effects
transitive
- The flu virus attacks the respiratory system, making breathing difficult.
- The bacteria can attack the body’s immune system, weakening its defenses.
- The virus attacks healthy cells, spreading throughout the body.
- The antivenom works by attacking the venom of the snake, neutralizing its effects.
- This drug attacks the infection by targeting the bacteria’s cell walls.
6
to begin dealing with a problem or task in a focused and energetic manner
transitive
- The team decided to attack the issue head-on and find a solution quickly.
- She attacked the math problem with confidence, solving it in just a few minutes.
- The group attacked the problem from multiple angles to find the best solution.
- The manager attacked the workload efficiently, prioritizing the most urgent tasks first.
- She attacked the math problem with confidence, solving it in just a few minutes.