用作动词，可以是及物动词也可以是不及物动词;可以指行动上的攻击也可指言行上的攻击。如：The enemy attacked at night. 敌人晚上袭击 。His remarks were attacked in the papers. 他的言论在报上受到抨击。有时可指疾病或灾害的袭击，或指干劲十足地着手干，或指狼吞虎咽地吃，或指解决或处理某问题等。如：Worms attacked the cabbageplants. 虫子侵袭了卷心菜。He attacked the steak at once. 他立即狼吞虎咽地吃起牛排来。How would you attack the problem? 你将如何处理这个问题？
用作名词，表示一般性“攻击”或“袭击”时，多为可数名词 ;表示疾病的“袭击”或“发作”时，通常为可数名词。如：They were alarmed by a sudden attack. 突然袭击使他们大为惊恐。Another village in the area was also under attack. 这个地区的另一个村庄也受到袭击。He was seized with a slightattack of fever. 他有点轻微的发烧。
