noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

assault

uh-SOLT

Assault (noun) means a sudden violent attack, whether physical or verbal. Example: “The soldiers launched an assault at dawn.”

noun

A sudden violent attack, whether physical or verbal.

"The soldiers launched an assault at dawn."

"She felt his comments were an assault on her character."

In law, an act that makes someone fear immediate physical harm, even without actual contact.

"Raising his fist at her was enough to count as assault."

verb

To attack someone violently, physically or verbally.

"He was arrested after he assaulted a security guard."

"The columnist assaulted the mayor's record in print."

How to use assault

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sudden attack — hitting someone, or in law, even just threatening to.

Common mistake

In criminal law, "assault" (the threat or attempt) is technically distinct from "battery" (actual physical contact), though everyday speech often blurs the two.

Common pairings

physical assault assault charges sexual assault assault someone

Word forms

assaulted past tense, assaults plural, assaults singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The soldiers launched an _____ at dawn.

Etymology

From Old French assaut, going back to Latin ad- ("towards") plus salire ("to jump") — the same root that gives us "assail".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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ambush raid onfall onrush aggression assailment attack attempt offense offensive onset onslaught

Antonyms

defense defence

Related words

try security military round attack beginning starting approach

Rhymes for assault

fault vault gault default Renault Foucault Thibault somersault

See all rhymes for assault →

Frequently asked questions

What does “assault” mean?

The word “assault” means a sudden violent attack, whether physical or verbal. In plain terms, a sudden attack — hitting someone, or in law, even just threatening to.

How do you pronounce “assault”?

“Assault” is pronounced uh-SOLT (/əˈsɔlt/ in IPA).

How do you use “assault” in a sentence?

Here is “assault” used in a sentence: “The soldiers launched an assault at dawn.”

What is another word for “assault”?

Words with a similar meaning to “assault” include onfall, onrush, aggression, assailment, attack and attempt.

What is the opposite of “assault”?

The opposite of “assault” — its antonyms — are defense and defence.

What part of speech is “assault”?

Depending on how it is used, “assault” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “assault” come from?

The word “assault” comes from Latin. From Old French assaut, going back to Latin ad- ("towards") plus salire ("to jump") — the same root that gives us "assail".

Is “assault” a common word?

“Assault” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

What is the difference between assault and battery?

In law, assault is the threat or attempt to harm someone that makes them fear imminent violence, while battery is the actual unwanted physical contact. You can commit assault without touching anyone — a raised fist or a spoken threat can be enough. Battery requires that contact is actually made.

Is assault always physical?

No. Although assault often involves physical violence, the word also covers verbal attacks — threats, intimidation, or aggressive abuse meant to frighten or harm. A sudden barrage of shouted threats can be called a verbal assault even when no blow is struck, since the essence of the word is a sudden, violent onslaught.

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