Attempt Synonym List: Try, Effort, Bid, Endeavor and Seek

The handiest attempt synonym is simply try, but effort, bid, endeavor, seek and strive each add something: effort stresses work, bid suggests a goal like a title or a deal, and strive shows struggle. Attempt works as both a verb (attempt a climb) and a noun (a failed attempt), so spot the verb or noun before you swap.

A quiet detail: attempt often implies the outcome was uncertain or that it failed. "She attempted the exam" hints she may not have passed. Keep that in mind as you choose.

Swatch at a glance

Best swaps
try, effort, bid, endeavor, seek
Part of speech
Verb and noun
Most formal
endeavor, undertake, seek to
Most casual
have a go, give it a shot, take a stab at
Strongest effort
strive, labor, work at
Antonyms
give up, abandon, avoid
Word forms covered
attempts, attempted, attempting

Attempt synonym table: verbs first, then nouns

Word	Type	Shade	Example
try	verb, noun	neutral, everyday	Try the stairs instead.
seek	verb	formal, aim toward	The council seeks to cut waste.
strive	verb	hard, ongoing work	We strive to reply within a day.
undertake	verb	formal, take on a task	The firm undertook the repairs.
effort	noun	stresses work put in	Her effort to fix the bug paid off.
bid	noun	try for a prize or goal	His bid for the title fell short.
go, shot, stab	noun	casual	Give it one more shot.

Each swap brings its own grammar

Attempt takes to plus a verb, or a noun: attempt to escape, attempt an escape. The swaps differ:

Try takes to or -ing, and the meaning shifts. Try to open the window (it may be stuck); try opening the window (as an experiment to cool the room).
Seek and strive take to: seek to improve, strive to finish.
Endeavor as a verb also takes to and is very formal. Used as a noun, endeavor names a serious project. See endeavor synonyms.
Bid as a noun takes for or to: a bid for power, a bid to win back fans.
Have a go takes at: have a go at painting.

From have a go to endeavor

Across the swatches, formality rises as you read along. Have a go is chatty and especially common in British speech. Try fits anywhere. Aim stresses the target more than the action. Seek sounds official and fits mission statements. Endeavor is the stuffiest of the five and can weigh down a quick email, so save it for policies and ceremonial speeches.

Swaps for attempts, attempted and attempting

Several attempts to call failed becomes several tries to call failed.
She attempted a backflip becomes she had a go at a backflip.
We are attempting to reduce costs becomes we are seeking to reduce costs.
His attempt to break the record becomes his bid to break the record.
I will attempt to answer every question becomes I will make every effort to answer every question.
An attempted robbery, a legal phrase, has no neat swap; keep it.

In a cover letter: "I attempted to improve onboarding." This sounds as if it may not have worked. A stronger line: "I led an effort to improve onboarding, cutting setup time by a third." Results first, verbs second: see our career writing hub.

Look closely before swapping

Test and trial are about checking how something works, not about effort. Attack appears in phrases like an attempt on someone's life, but in normal writing it changes the meaning completely. Experiment suits science or trying something new for fun, not a single effort to reach a goal. And struggle adds pain or hardship that attempt does not carry.

Antonyms: not trying at all

Since attempt means making an effort, its opposites describe stopping or never starting. Give up and quit are casual. Abandon is stronger and formal: abandon the plan. Avoid and shirk mean dodging a task, and shirk carries blame. Forgo means choosing to go without, often politely.

They abandoned the climb when the storm hit.
He never shirked the hard jobs.

Frequently asked questions

Is try or attempt better in an essay?

Attempt reads as formal and can hint at failure. Try is clearer and fine in most essays, so choose attempt when you want a serious tone.

Which attempt synonym sounds most formal?

Endeavor and undertake are the most formal. Seek to is formal too and reads more smoothly in modern business writing.

Can effort always replace attempt as a noun?

Usually. Effort puts the focus on the work you put in, while attempt focuses on the act of trying. "A brave effort" and "a brave attempt" are both natural.

What does bid mean as a synonym?

In this sense a bid means trying to win or gain something: a bid for office, a bid to save money. It suits news and business writing.

How do I say attempt casually?

Have a go, give it a shot or take a stab at it. All three suggest a relaxed, low-pressure try.

Which antonym of attempt fits a project that was dropped?

Abandon works best: "The company abandoned the project." Give up is the casual version.