attacking

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of attack.

   Critics were attacking the new policy from every direction.

   The boxer kept attacking until the final bell.

   Note

   The verb form carries every sense of attack, and most of them want an object: attacking a position, attacking a problem, damp attacking the timber. Cricket is the exception, where a bowling side can simply be attacking, setting its field or bowling to take wickets. When attacking stands before a noun with no object of its own, as in an attacking side, it has crossed over into the adjective.

2. 2
   adjective

   Engaged in carrying out an attack against someone or something.

   The attacking force overwhelmed the defenders within hours.

   Coaches praised the team's attacking approach throughout the match.

   Similaroffensive, aggressive

   Oppositedefensive

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