attack
B1Neutral (used across all registers from formal to informal)
Definition
Meaning
To act violently against someone or something with the intent to harm, defeat, or destroy.
To begin a task or activity with energy and determination; to criticize someone or something strongly; to begin to affect something harmfully (e.g., a disease, rust).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word can be used literally (physical/violent action) or metaphorically (verbal criticism, beginning a task). As a noun, it often collocates with verbs like 'launch', 'carry out', 'come under', 'suffer'. The metaphorical sense of 'beginning energetically' is common (e.g., 'attack a problem').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Spelling of past tense/participle is standard 'attacked' in both. Minor potential difference: In football/soccer contexts, 'attack' is more commonly used as a collective noun for the forward players in BrE ('the attack was weak'), while in AmE sports commentary, it might be used more generically for offensive play.
Connotations
Largely identical. In military/political discourse, connotations are equally strong.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VN] attack sb/sth[V] The lions attacked.[VN] attack sb/sth for sth/for doing sth[VN-N] He was attacked as a traitor.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Attack is the best form of defence.”
- “A heart attack.”
- “Under attack (from).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for competitive moves (e.g., 'The company attacked its rival's market share.') or criticism in meetings/reports.
Academic
Used to describe critical analysis of theories or arguments (e.g., 'The paper attacks the foundational assumptions of the model.').
Everyday
Common for describing physical fights, verbal criticism, or starting tasks (e.g., 'I'll attack the washing up.').
Technical
In IT/security: 'cyber attack', 'denial-of-service attack'. In medicine: 'asthma attack', 'panic attack'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The opposition attacked the government's new policy.
- We need to attack this project with more vigour.
- Rust was attacking the old iron gates.
American English
- The senator attacked his opponent's record.
- Let's attack these chores and get them done.
- The virus attacks the nervous system.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as a true adverb. 'Attack-wise' is non-standard.)
American English
- (Rarely used as a true adverb. 'Attack-wise' is informal/jargon.)
adjective
British English
- Attack helicopter.
- Attack dog.
- The team's attack strategy was brilliant.
American English
- Attack ad (political advertisement).
- Attack submarine.
- Attack vector (in cybersecurity).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The dog did not attack the postman.
- She had a bad asthma attack.
- The army will attack at dawn.
- His article was a strong attack on social inequality.
- The company came under attack for its environmental record.
- We must attack the root causes of poverty, not just the symptoms.
- The critic's polemic savagely attacked the pretensions of the avant-garde movement.
- Philosophers have relentlessly attacked the coherence of the concept of free will.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TACK (a sharp nail). To ATTACK is to come at someone with sharp force.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRITICISM IS PHYSICAL ATTACK ('Her comments were a direct attack on my integrity.'); BEGINNING A TASK ENERGETICALLY IS ATTACKING ('He attacked the pile of paperwork.'); ILLNESS IS AN ATTACKER ('a sudden attack of flu').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'attack' for every instance of 'нападать'. In Russian, 'нападать' can be used for minor pestering or teasing, but 'attack' in English implies a more serious, forceful, or hostile action. For playful teasing, use 'tease', 'pester', or 'pick on'.
- The noun 'attack' can correspond to 'приступ' (heart attack, asthma attack), not just 'атака'.
- The phrase 'go on the attack' is idiomatic and means to start criticizing or opposing aggressively.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'attack *to* someone' (correct: 'attack *on* someone' as a noun, 'attack someone' as a verb).
- Confusing 'attack' with 'attempt'. An attack is aggressive; an attempt is a try.
- Overusing the verb for minor conflicts; 'argue with' or 'criticize' may be more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'attack' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's understandable but not a strong collocation. 'Launch an attack', 'carry out an attack', or 'mount an attack' are more natural.
They are often synonyms. 'Assault' can sound slightly more formal/legal and often implies a sudden, violent physical act. 'Attack' has a wider range, including military, verbal, and medical contexts.
Yes, in certain contexts, particularly in sports or military strategy referring to the concept or phase of play (e.g., 'The team is strong in attack but weak in defence.').
No, it's a medical term for a sudden and sometimes fatal occurrence of coronary thrombosis. It uses the 'sudden harmful event' metaphor of 'attack', not the 'violent action' meaning.