26984 words

attack

15 definitions • 28 examples
1
to try to hurt or defeat using violence:

Examples:

He was attacked and seriously injured by a gang of youths.
Army forces have been attacking the town since dawn.
Most wild animals won't attack unless they are provoked.
2
to criticize someone strongly:

Examples:

She wrote an article attacking the judges and their conduct of the trial.
The report attacks the idea of exams for seven and eight-year-olds.
3
If something, such as a disease or a chemical, attacks something, it damages it:

Examples:

AIDS attacks the body's immune system.
My rose bushes are being attacked by aphids.
4
If players in a team attack, they move forward to try to score points, goals, etc.
5
to deal with something quickly and in an effective way:

Examples:

We have to attack these problems now and find some solutions.
The children rushed in and eagerly attacked the food (= quickly started to eat it).
6
a violent act intended to hurt or damage someone or something:

Examples:

a racist attack
Enemy forces have made an attack on the city.
These bomb blasts suggest that the terrorists are (going) on the attack (= trying to defeat or hurt other people) again.
The town was once again under attack (= being attacked).
7
a strong criticism of someone or something:

Examples:

a scathing attack on the president
The government has come under attack from all sides for cutting education spending.
8

Examples:

an attack of asthma/flu/malaria
figurative an attack of the giggles
9
the part of a team in some sports that tries to score points:

Examples:

The team has a strong attack, but its defence is weak.
The team is strong inattack but useless in defence.
10
determination in the way you play a sport, trying hard to score points:

Examples:

The team needs to put some more attack into its game.
11
to try to hurt or defeat someone or something using violence:

Examples:

[ T ] Two campers were attacked by a bear last night.
[ I ] Most wild animals won't attack unless they are provoked.
12
If a disease or a chemical attacks something, it damages it:

Examples:

13
to criticize someone or something strongly:

Examples:

Critics have attacked her ideas as antidemocratic.
In TV ads, he attacked his opponent’s record.
14
An attack is also a sudden, short period of illness, or a sudden feeling that you cannot control:

Examples:

[ C ] an asthma attack
[ C ] How do you let your kids go without having anxiety attacks?
15
An attack is also strong criticism of someone or something:

Examples:

[ U ] The more he speaks out, the more he comes under attack.

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