attack, assail, assault, bombard, storm mean to make an onslaught upon. attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

What is a basic definition of attack? Attack means to attempt to inflict harm with physical violence, to attempt to inflict harm with words, or to initiate a military offensive against another.

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 …

Attack applies especially to hostile verbal criticism: reviews that attacked the film for its senseless violence; attacked the ruling as detrimental to business interests.

When you attack, you charge or advance violently. It's scary to watch a big dog attack a smaller dog.

Feb 9, 2026 · Noun attack (plural attacks) An attempt to cause damage, injury to, or death of an opponent or enemy.

Designed or used for carrying out a hostile or aggressive attack. A political attack ad.

Definition of attack. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.

If you attack a person, belief, idea, or act, you criticize them strongly. He publicly attacked the people who've been calling for secret ballot nominations. [VERB noun] A newspaper ran an editorial …

• We can attack an orange for not being an apple. • We choose our frame of reference and attack something for not fitting it. • Temper defeated pity and he attacked her rabidly for, of all things, going …