Try — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈtrī/

Meaning & Definition of Try

Try (verb)

  1. to make an effort or attempt
  2. to make an attempt at —often used with an infinitive —often followed by and + a verb
  3. to do or use (something) to see if it works or succeeds —often used with out

Try (noun)

  1. an experimental trial, attempt
  2. a play in rugby that is similar to a touchdown in football, scores usually five points, and entitles the scoring side to attempt a placekick at the goal for additional points; also, the score made on a try

Try (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make an effort to do

    "try to unlock the door"

    "will try to call later tonight"

    similar: assay, attempt, endeavor, essay, seek, strive, have a go at, shoot at, try one's hand (at)
    related: fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work, aim, aspire, hope, assume, take up, undertake
    near: drop, give up, quit

  2. to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress

    "you're trying my patience"

    similar: strain, stretch, tax, test
    related: demand, exact, importune, press, pressure, push, aggravate, agitate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get (to), gnaw (at), grate, harass, harry, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, pain, peeve, pester, rile, spite, vex

Try (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an effort to do or accomplish something

    "was granted another try at the field goal"

    similar: assay (archaic), attempt, bash (chiefly British), bid, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, whack, whirl
    related: striving, struggle, throes, undertaking, trial and error

Related Entry: Try (out) (verb)

Try (out) is a different word from Try. The synonyms below are for try (out), not for try.

  1. to put (something) to a test

    "want to try out my new skateboard?"

    "tried out his skill at archery"

    similar: sample, test
    related: check (out), examine, experiment (with), explore, feel (out), investigate, research, study, resample, retest

Related Entry: Try one's hand (at) (phrase)

Try one's hand (at) is a different word from Try. The synonyms below are for try one's hand (at), not for try.

  1. to make an effort to do

    "She decided to try her hand at at roller derby after discovering her love of skating."

    similar: assay, attempt, endeavor, essay, seek, strive, try, have a go at, shoot at
    related: fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work, aim, aspire, hope, assume, take up, undertake
    near: drop, give up, quit

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Try

The most common words with a similar meaning to Try:

Archaic: assay
Chiefly British: bash
attempt, endeavor, essay, seek, strive, strain, stretch, tax, test, have a go at, shoot at, try one's hand (at), bid, crack, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, whack, whirl

Related Words for Try

fight, struggle, toil, trouble, work, aim, aspire, hope, assume, take up, undertake, demand, exact, importune, press, pressure, push, aggravate, agitate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get (to), gnaw (at), grate, harass, harry, hassle, irk

Near Antonyms of Try

drop, give up, quit

Word Forms of Try

Inflections: tried, trying, tries

Origin & Etymology of Try

Middle English trien, from Anglo-French trier to select, sort, examine, determine, probably from Late Latin tritare to grind, frequentative of Latin terere to rub throw:1

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Try

Words & Phrases Containing Try

try for point, try on, try one's hand, try one's luck, try out, try-pot, try square, try as one might

Frequently Asked Questions about Try

What does "Try" mean?

"Try" means to make an effort or attempt. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to make an effort or attempt. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Try"?

Other words for "Try" include assay, attempt, endeavor, essay, seek, strive, strain and stretch. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Try" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Try"?

There are 67 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Try". Common alternatives include assay, attempt, endeavor, essay, seek, strive, strain, stretch, tax and test.

How do you use "Try" in a sentence?

Examples of "Try" in a sentence: "try to unlock the door"; "will try to call later tonight"; "you're trying my patience".

Is "Try" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Try" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Try" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Try" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Try"?

"Try" is pronounced /ˈtrī/.

What is the origin of the word "Try"?

"Try" comes from Middle English trien, from Anglo-French trier to select, sort, examine, determine, probably from Late Latin tritare to grind, frequentative of Latin terere to rub throw:1. First known use: 14th centuryt.