try
trahy
Try (verb) means to make an attempt at doing something. Example: “She tried to fix the leak herself before calling a plumber.”
verb
1
To make an attempt at doing something.
"She tried to fix the leak herself before calling a plumber."
"Try not to worry so much about the exam."
"I'll try to call you when the meeting finishes."
2
To test something out, such as by tasting or using it.
"Would you like to try the new flavour before you buy it?"
"You should try the soup; it's made from my grandmother's recipe."
"Try these shoes on to see whether they fit comfortably."
3
In law, to hold a legal hearing to decide a case.
"The court will try the fraud case once all the evidence has been collected."
"The case will be tried before a jury next month."
"Magistrates try most minor offences in the local court."
noun
1
An attempt.
"Give it another try — you almost had it that time."
"Her first try at baking bread turned out surprisingly well."
"I'll have a try at fixing your bike this afternoon."
2
In rugby, a score made by touching the ball down over the opponent's goal line.
"The winger sprinted the length of the pitch to score a try."
"The crowd cheered when the prop crashed over for a try."
"The referee awarded a try after checking the replay carefully."
How to use try
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo attempt or test something; also a noun for that attempt, or a rugby score.
Common pairings
try again
give it a try
score a try
try your best
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like try.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- tries
- Third person singular
- tries
- Past tense
- tried
- Comparative
- more try
- Superlative
- most try
- Archaic forms
- triest, triedst, trieth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ not to worry so much about the exam.
Etymology
From Old French trier, "to sift, choose, or pick out," originally used for sorting grain or ore before it came to mean "attempt" or "test."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “try” mean?
The word “try” means to make an attempt at doing something. In plain terms, to attempt or test something; also a noun for that attempt, or a rugby score.
How do you pronounce “try”?
“Try” is pronounced trahy (/tɹaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “try” in a sentence?
Here is “try” used in a sentence: “Try not to worry so much about the exam.”
What is another word for “try”?
Words with a similar meaning to “try” include strive, put, keep, etc. one's nose to the grindstone, put one's back into and give 110%.
What part of speech is “try”?
Depending on how it is used, “try” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “try” come from?
The word “try” comes from Old French. From Old French trier, "to sift, choose, or pick out," originally used for sorting grain or ore before it came to mean "attempt" or "test.".
Is “try” a common word?
“Try” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “try” have?
“Try” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make an attempt at doing something.
What is the difference between 'try to' and 'try and'?
'Try to' is the standard, more formal choice and works in all writing: 'try to finish.' 'Try and' is common in casual speech and means the same thing, but many editors avoid it in formal contexts. When in doubt, 'try to' is always correct.
What is the difference between try and attempt?
They mean nearly the same thing, but 'try' is the everyday word for making an effort, while 'attempt' is slightly more formal and often used for harder or more serious undertakings. You try to open a jar; you attempt a difficult climb. In most sentences they are interchangeable.
Does trying mean succeeding?
No. To try is to make an effort toward something, regardless of whether it works. You can try and fail, or try and succeed — the word describes the attempt itself, not the outcome. This is why we say 'at least I tried,' acknowledging effort without claiming success.
What is an example of 'try' in a sentence?
'She decided to try skydiving for the first time.' Here, 'try' means to make an attempt at something new. Other examples include 'try to be on time' and 'let me try that again,' each expressing an effort to do or achieve something.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include try:
