try

Syllabification: (try)

Pronunciation: /trī/

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Definition of try

verb (tries, trying, tried)

1 [no object] make an attempt or effort to do something: [with infinitive]:he tried to regain his breath I started to try and untangle the mystery I decided to try writing fiction none of them tried very hard [with object]:three times he tried the maneuver and three times he failed
(try for) attempt to achieve or attain:they decided to try for another baby
[with object] use, test, or do (something new or different) in order to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant:everyone wanted to know if I’d tried jellied eel these methods are tried and tested
(try out for) North American compete or audition in order to join (a team) or be given (a position):she tried out for the team
[with object] go to (a place) or attempt to contact (someone), typically in order to obtain something:I’ve tried the apartment, but the number is busy
[with object] push or pull (a door or window) to determine whether it is locked:I tried the doors, but they were locked
[with object] make severe demands on (a person or a quality, typically patience):Mary tried everyone’s patience to the limit

2 [with object] (usually be tried) subject (someone) to trial:he was arrested and tried for the murder
investigate and decide (a case or issue) in a formal trial:such cases must be tried by a jury

3 [with object] chiefly British smooth (roughly planed wood) with a plane to give an accurately flat surface.

4 [with object] extract (oil or fat) by heating:some of the fat may be tried out and used

noun (plural tries)

1an effort to accomplish something; an attempt:Mitterrand was elected president on his third try
an act of doing, using, or testing something new or different to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant:they should give the idea a try

2 Rugby an act of touching the ball down behind the opposing goal line, scoring points and entitling the scoring side to a goal kick.

Phrases

I (or he, etc.) will try anything once: used to indicate willingness to do or experience something new.
try something on for size: assess whether something is suitable:he was trying on the role for size
try one's hand at: attempt to do (something) for the first time, typically in order to find out if one is good at it:a chance to try your hand at the ancient art of drystone walling
try it on: British informal attempt to deceive or seduce someone:he was trying it on with my wife; deliberately test someone’s patience to see how much one can get away with.
try one's luck: see luck.
try me: used to suggest that one may be willing to do something unexpected or unlikely:“You won’t use a gun up here.” “Try me.”

Phrasal Verbs

try something on: put on an item of clothing to see if it fits or suits one.
try someone/something out: test someone or something new or different to assess their suitability or effectiveness:I try out new recipes on my daughter

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French trier 'sift', of unknown origin. Sense 1 of the noun dates from the early 17th century

In practice, there is little discernible difference in meaning between try to plus infinitive (we should try to help them) and try and plus infinitive (we should try and help them), but there is a difference in formality, with try to being regarded as more formal than try and. Beyond the issue of formality, the construction try and is grammatically odd, in that it cannot be inflected for tense—that is, sentences like she tried and fix it or they are trying and renew their visa are not acceptable, while their equivalents she tried to fix it or they are trying to renew their visa obviously are. For this reason, try and is best regarded as a fixed idiom used only in its infinitive and imperative form. See also and (usage).

Spelling rule

If a word ends in a consonant plus -y (as in defy), change the -y to an -i before adding any ending (unless the ending already begins with an -i): (tries, trying, tried).

try in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of try in the British & World English dictionary

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try

verb (tries, trying, tried)

noun (plural tries)

Phrases

I (or he, etc.) will try anything once

try something on for size

try one's hand at

try it on

try one's luck

try me

Phrasal Verbs

try something on

try someone/something out

Origin:

Spelling rule

try in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for try

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