Meaning of try in English

try

verb

/traɪ/ us

/traɪ/

try verb (ATTEMPT)

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A2 [ I or T ]

to attempt to do something:

Keep trying and you'll find a job eventually.

try again If I don't get into the academy this year, I'll try again next year.

try hard I've tried really hard but I can't convince him to come.

try your best/hardest I'm trying my best/hardest, but I just can't do it.

[ + to infinitive ] I tried to open the window.

[ + -ing verb ] Maybe you should try getting up (= you should get up) earlier.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to try to do something

tryI'll try to call her again.
attemptI have never attempted to run a marathon.
endeavourUK Engineers are endeavouring to locate the source of the problem.
seekThey sought to reassure the public.
battleHe was battling to fix the roof in the rain.
striveWith limited resources, they are striving to make the school a better one.

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More examplesFewer examples

She can be really irritating but I try to ignore her.
We must try to spend less money.
I never seem to lose any weight, no matter how hard I try.
She lay back in the dentist's chair and tried to relax.
The driver was peering into the distance trying to read the road sign.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Trying and making an effort

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try verb (TEST)

B1 [ T ]

to test something to see if it is suitable or useful or if it works:

I tried that recipe you gave me last night.

We don't sell newspapers - have you tried the coffee shop on the corner?

[ + -ing verb ] Try using a different shampoo.

I'd like to try parachuting.

I forgot my door-keys - we'd better try the window (= test it to see if it is open).

See also

tried and tested

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Testing, checking and experimenting

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try verb (LAW)

C2 [ T ]

to examine a person accused of committing a crime in a law court by asking them questions and considering known facts, and then decide if they are guilty:

Because of security implications the officers were tried in secret.

be tried for They are being tried for murder.

See also

trial noun (LEGAL PROCESS)

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Taking legal action

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try verb (WORRY)

[ T ]

to worry or annoy someone or upset a person's patience with many, often slight, difficulties:

try someone sorely The demands of the job have tried him sorely.

try your patience He's been trying my patience all morning with his constant questions.

try the patience of a saint Her endless demands would try the patience of a saint (= are very annoying).

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Causing feelings of anger and displeasure

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Idioms

try something for size
try your hand at something
try your luck
try it on

Phrasal verbs

try for something
try something on
try something out
try something out on someone
try out (for something)

try

noun

/traɪ/ us

/traɪ/

try noun (ATTEMPT)

B2 [ C usually singular ]

an attempt to do something:

give it a try They might still have tickets left - why don't you give it a try?

try at This will be her third try at jumping the bar.

worth a try You could ask him if he's willing - it's worth a try.

More examplesFewer examples

I can't get the cork out of the bottle - could you have a try?
I've never done it before but I'd like to have a try.
After several tries at pronouncing my name properly, he asked if he could just call me Sam instead!
Hey - that was a really good try! You'll soon be able to play the whole tune.
Your little brother wants a try - pass him the ball, Katie.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Trying and making an effort

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try noun (SPORT)

[ C ]

(in the game of rugby) the act of a player putting the ball on the ground behind the opposing team's goal line, which scores points for the player's team

[ C ]

in American football, an attempt to score an additional point or points after a touchdown has been scored, either by kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts for one point or by carrying the ball into the opponent's end zone or catching it in the end zone for two points:

After the touchdown, they decided to go for a two-point try.

The try was good, making the score 7 to 0.

See also

point after
extra point
two-point conversion

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Rugby

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

American football

(Definition of try from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

try | American Dictionary

try

verb

/trɑɪ/

try verb (ATTEMPT)

Add to word list Add to word list

[ I/T ]

to make an effort to do something:

[ I ] Try to open this jar for me.

[ I ] You’ll have to try harder.

[ T ] I’m trying my best.

[ I ] Maybe you should try getting up earlier (= should wake earlier).

try verb (TEST)

[ T ]

to test something to see if it is suitable or useful, or if it will work:

Have you tried that new recipe yet?

I want to try scuba diving.

Try the back door (= see if it is open).

try verb (EXAMINE IN COURT)

[ T ] law

to examine a person accused of committing a crime in a court of law to decide if the person is guilty:

He was tried for fraud.

Idioms

try your hand at something

try someone’s patience

Phrasal verbs

try something out on someone
try on something
try out
try out something

try

noun [ C ]

/trɑɪ/

try noun [C] (ATTEMPT)

an effort to do something; an attempt:

This will be her third try at an Olympic medal.

I decided to give skiing a try.

(Definition of try from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

try | Business English

try

verb [ T ]

LAW

/traɪ/ us

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to bring someone who is accused of a crime to a court of law to decide if they are guilty:

be tried for sth The brothers were tried for financial crimes involving fraudulent use of depositors' money.

Their case is being tried next week.

(Definition of try from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of try

try

It is this affective and evaluative progress that teachers might try to develop in pupils in order to develop their skills of musical thinking further.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

If the child refused, the first author tried again up to two more times.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Our point here is simply that it makes little sense to try to maintain that the explicit representations are abstract and the implicit are not.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

These observations should encourage the theoretical community to reconsider their theories and try to explain why both z and u appear to play dynamical roles.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

They were told that the purpose of the procedure was to observe the child trying to wait.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

They tried to mimic the accent of those who taught them.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

We first tried to adapt these systems to proof systems.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In light of this, it would seem appropriate to try another analytical approach that could be appropriate for strongly nonlinear systems.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

He tries to turn the tables, thereby running the risk of turning philosophy into psychology.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

I'm trying to make things that invite people to interact with them and which will run by themselves.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

I always take a kind of 'what if ' approach, and try to do new things.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Among the 10 students, 2 would volunteer, 5 would accept, 3 would try to avoid the task, and none would refuse to undertake it.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

I have tried many of them with my students - and they work!

From the Cambridge English Corpus

It is tempting to try to compare this volume to an imaginary book which it doesn't try to be.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

I am going to try to take some first steps toward this goal in this article.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

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These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of try?

Translations of try

in Chinese (Traditional)

試圖, 試圖，想要, 設法，努力…

Meaning of try in English

try verb (ATTEMPT)

try verb (TEST)

try verb (LAW)

try verb (WORRY)

Idioms

Phrasal verbs

try noun (ATTEMPT)

try noun (SPORT)

try | American Dictionary

try verb (ATTEMPT)

try verb (TEST)

try verb (EXAMINE IN COURT)

Idioms

Phrasal verbs

try noun [C] (ATTEMPT)

try | Business English

Examples of try

Translations of try

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