The term "attempted assault" means an attempt, intention or an act to physically harm the person, which ends up being unsuccessful and the victim remains untouched. One example is when someone swings their fist to punch someone else, but misses and ultimately fails to harm them.
The intention of an assault, which fails and does not include any physical contact, is called an attempted assault. The victim of an attempted assault, however, might have gone through psychological trauma as a result of the attempted assault. This is the reason why different states have different laws related to attempted assault. Some states don't even classify it as an assault.