try
try — verb
1. to do something with the aim of succeeding, especially when the action is hard o
to do something with the aim of succeeding, especially when the action is hard or the result is unknown.
Christopher tried to open the window, but the handle was stuck.
try + to-infinitive for effort toward a goal
If you cannot sleep, try drinking warm milk before you go to bed.
try + -ing form for suggesting a method
Hari tried his best to finish the marathon despite the pain in his leg.
try + possessive + best / hardest
The children tried to build a treehouse and finished it just before dark.
try + to-infinitive with successful outcome
- try hard
- try your best
- try your hardest
- try again
- try desperately
Grammar Patterns
try + to-infinitive for making an effort
try + -ing form for experimenting with a method
try + possessive + best / hardest
Usage Note
Try + to-infinitive focuses on the effort toward a goal; try + -ing form focuses on experimenting with a method. Both are grammatically correct, but the meaning changes.
Common Mistakes
2. to experience or operate something briefly in order to judge its quality, useful
to experience or operate something briefly in order to judge its quality, usefulness, or effectiveness before making a final choice.
Dewi tried a new Thai recipe for dinner, and her family loved it.
try + noun phrase for testing a new thing
Before buying the sofa, Ife tried sitting on it in the showroom.
Gabriela tried the new app for a week before paying for it.
try + something + for + [time period]
The doctor tried a different treatment when the first one did not help.
- try a new recipe
- try a product
- try a method
- try a technique
- try something for size
- test
more deliberate; often involves checking for problems
- sample
specifically about tasting food or trying a small amount
- experiment with
suggests trying several options to compare results
Grammar Patterns
try + noun phrase for testing something
try + -ing form for sampling an experience
Usage Note
In this sense the object is a product, method, food, activity, or experience being evaluated. Contrast with Sense 1 where the object (or to-infinitive) is a task being attempted.
Common Mistakes
3. to hear the evidence and facts of a legal case in a court of law and reach a for
to hear the evidence and facts of a legal case in a court of law and reach a formal decision about whether the accused person is guilty or not guilty.
The former banker was tried for fraud in a London court.
passive: be tried for [crime]
Judge Ryo will try the case starting next Monday.
active: judge tries a case
Stefan was tried and found not guilty of all charges.
passive: be tried + outcome
The lawyer who tried the case had worked on similar trials before.
lawyer tries a case: represents a client
- try a case
- try somebody for murder / fraud / theft
- be tried in court
- prosecute
specifically about the state bringing charges against someone; narrower in scope
- adjudicate
formal; refers to the judge's role in making a legal decision
Grammar Patterns
try + somebody + for + crime
be tried for + crime
be tried at + court / place
Usage Note
Frequently passive (be tried) when the subject is the accused person. The active subject can be a judge (presiding over the case) or a lawyer (representing a side in court).
Common Mistakes
4. to cause someone to feel annoyed, impatient, or upset, especially through repeat
to cause someone to feel annoyed, impatient, or upset, especially through repeated small problems or demands.
The constant noise from the building site tried Henry's patience every day.
collocation: try + possessive + patience
Jisoo's habit of arriving late began to try her colleagues at work.
The broken lift tried everyone's patience in the apartment building.
Nala's constant questions during the meeting tried the manager's patience.
- try somebody's patience
- try somebody's nerves
Grammar Patterns
try + somebody
try + possessive + patience
Usage Note
This sense is more formal than 'annoy' or 'irritate'. It is most commonly used with 'patience' as the direct object. The subject is typically a situation or repeated behaviour, not a person acting deliberately.
Common Mistakes
try on
phrasal verbto put on a piece of clothing to see if it fits and looks good before deciding whether to buy it.
Vinícius tried on three different jackets before choosing the black one.
Eve tried on the dress in the shop but decided it was too short.
try out
phrasal verbto test something, such as equipment, a method, or a skill, by using it in practice to see how well it works.
Ryan tried out the new camera by taking photos of the park.
The coach asked the young players to try out for the team.
try for
phrasal verbto make an attempt to get or achieve something that requires effort or luck.
Padma is trying for a place at a top university next year.
After the bronze medal, the athlete decided to try for gold.
try out for
phrasal verbTo compete for a position in a team, play, or other group by showing your skills.
Maya tried out for the school basketball team last week.
Are you going to try out for the lead role in the play?
tried and tested
idiomused to describe a method, product, or approach that has been used many times in the past and has proven to work well.
The chef used a tried and tested recipe for the wedding cake.
In teaching, tried and tested methods often work better than new ideas.
try your hand (at)
idiomto attempt doing something for the first time, especially a skill or creative activity.
Quan decided to try his hand at pottery during the summer break.
Nala tried her hand at writing short stories and won a small prize.
try your luck
idiomto attempt something that involves risk or luck, hoping to succeed even though success is not guaranteed.
Darius decided to try his luck at the local talent show.
The young artist tried her luck by sending paintings to a gallery.
To make the greatest possible effort to achieve something.
Maya did her damnedest to finish the race despite the rain.
Will you try your damnedest to pass the exam?
To do everything you can to achieve something.
Sara tried her level best to learn Chinese before the trip.
Diego did his level best to fix the broken computer.
Used to say that someone has tried very hard even though they did not succeed.
The team lost the match, but not for want of trying.
He didn't get the job, but it wasn't for lack of trying.
Used to say that difficult situations are meant to test our strength and we should accept them.
When the car broke down, Dad said these things are sent to try us.
Losing your wallet is frustrating, but these things are sent to try us.
Describes a method or thing that has been used successfully many times before.
This recipe is a tried and tested way to bake a chocolate cake.
Aiden used a tried and trusted strategy to win the chess game.
To make the greatest possible effort to achieve something.
Brian tried his damnedest to convince the board to invest.
Did you try your damnedest to finish the project on time?
To attempt an activity or skill for the first time.
Min decided to try her hand at painting this weekend.
Have you ever tried your hand at playing the guitar?
To behave badly or test someone's limits to get what you want, knowing it might annoy them.
The student tried it on with the substitute teacher by talking loudly.
My little brother always tries it on with Mom when she's busy.
To attempt something risky or based on luck, hoping to succeed.
Liam tried his luck at the lottery and won a small prize.
Why don't you try your luck at the job fair tomorrow?
To cause someone to become impatient or annoyed.
The constant noise from the construction site tried my patience.
Her endless questions tried the teacher's patience.
try — noun
1. an effort to do or achieve something, especially when the result is not certain
an effort to do or achieve something, especially when the result is not certain and you may need to try more than once.
Mira made a brave try at climbing the mountain before the storm came.
make a try at + noun phrase
This was Hari's third try at passing the driving test this year.
ordinal + try at + -ing form
It took several tries, but Dahlia finally solved the tricky puzzle.
several tries / multiple tries
Ilan gave yoga a try and found that it helped him relax after work.
give something a try
- have a try
- give it a try
- worth a try
- first try
- another try
Grammar Patterns
have a try
make a try
give something a try
it is worth a try
Usage Note
Often used in phrases like 'give it a try', 'worth a try', 'have a try'. These are informal and very common in everyday speech.
Common Mistakes
2. in rugby, a score worth five points, achieved by touching down with the ball bey
in rugby, a score worth five points, achieved by touching down with the ball beyond the opponents' scoring area at the far end of the field.
Tamás scored the winning try in the final minute of the match.
score a try
The crowd cheered when the referee awarded a try after reviewing the play.
Ryo ran past three defenders to score a try in the final match.
The winger sprinted down the sideline and scored a try in the corner.
score a try: verb phrase
- score a try
- winning try
- award a try
- try scorer
Grammar Patterns
score a try
Usage Note
A try is worth five points in rugby union. After scoring a try, the team also gets a chance to kick the ball through the goalposts for two extra points (a conversion).
3. in American football, a single scoring attempt that takes place after a touchdow
in American football, a single scoring attempt that takes place after a touchdown, where the team can add one point with a kick through the uprights or two points by reaching the end zone with the ball via a run or a pass.
Élise completed a pass in the end zone for a successful two-point try.
two-point try
The kicker's try was blocked by the defensive line at the last moment.
The coach decided to go for a two-point try instead of the easy kick.
go for a two-point try
On the extra-point try, the holder dropped the ball and the play failed.
- two-point try
- extra-point try
- convert a try
- try attempt
Grammar Patterns
two-point try
extra-point try
Usage Note
A standard extra-point kick is worth one point; a two-point try (running or passing into the end zone) is worth two points. This sense is used mainly in discussions of American football rules and play-by-play commentary.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Try is the most common and general word for making an effort to do something. It is used in everyday conversation and writing. Attempt is more formal and often suggests a single, specific effort with a clear goal, as in 'The climbers attempted the north face of the mountain.' Strive implies continuous effort over time, often driven by a strong desire or principle — for example, 'The organisation strives to improve education for all children.' Endeavour is the most formal of the four, common in British English and serious writing, and suggests a sustained, principled effort; for instance, 'The scientists endeavour to find a cure for the disease.' In short: try is for everyday use, attempt for focused efforts with clear goals, strive for long-term commitment, and endeavour for formal, principled undertakings.
Common collocations
Phrases
- try your best
- try your hardest
- give it a try
- worth a try
Prepositions
Etymology
The word 'try' entered English in the 13th century from Old French 'trier', meaning to sort, sift, or pick out. This French word probably came from Latin 'tritare', meaning to rub or thresh (grain), which in turn comes from 'terere' (to rub). The original idea was about separating the valuable part from the waste by rubbing or sifting. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'separate and examine carefully' to 'test the quality of something' and finally to 'make an effort to achieve something'. The legal sense — to examine a case in court — developed from this notion of careful examination. The rugby sense was first recorded in the 1880s, referring to the right to 'try' to kick a conversion after grounding the ball beyond the goal line.