try

verb

OPAL S

/traɪ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they try	/traɪ/ /traɪ/
he / she / it tries	/traɪz/ /traɪz/
past simple tried	/traɪd/ /traɪd/
past participle tried	/traɪd/ /traɪd/
-ing form trying	/ˈtraɪɪŋ/ /ˈtraɪɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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[intransitive, transitive] to make an attempt or effort to do or get something
- I don't know if I can come but I'll try.
- try to do something What are you trying to do?
- I tried hard not to laugh.
- You haven’t even tried to find it.
- Don’t try to do it too quickly.
- I kept trying to remember where I had seen him before.
- I was just trying to help!
- She was desperately trying to stay afloat.
- try your best/hardest (to do something) She tried her best to solve the problem.
- Just try your hardest.
- try doing something I tried calling him but there was no answer.
- Just try getting a plumber at the weekend!
- He tried and tried but he could not climb out.
- Please try again later.
In spoken English try and can be used with another verb, instead of try to and the infinitive: I'll try and get you a new one tomorrow. • Try and finish quickly. In this structure, only the form try can be used, not tries, trying or tried.
More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitives
Verbs usually followed by infinitives
- afford
- agree
- appear
- arrange
- attempt
- beg
- choose
- consent
- decide
- expect
- fail
- happen
- hesitate
- hope
- intend
- learn
- manage
- mean
- neglect
- offer
- prepare
- pretend
- promise
- refuse
- swear
- try
- want
- wish
Extra Examples
- Can't you do it? Let me try.
- I clumsily tried to make amends.
- I wondered if he was purposely trying to avoid me.
- She tried valiantly to smile through her tears.
- I've given up trying to persuade her.
- a treason charge for allegedly trying to overthrow the government by force
- I hope you're not going to try and deny it.
- Can you guys at least try and be nice to her?
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- desperately
- frantically
- furiously
- …
verb + try
- decide to
- dare (somebody) to
- bother to
- …
phrases
- be just trying to do something
- be only trying to do something
- give up trying
- …
See full entry
[transitive] to use, do or test something in order to see if it is good, suitable, etc.
- try something Have you tried this new coffee? It's very good.
- ‘Would you like to try some raw fish?’ ‘Why not? I'll try anything once!’
- I'd like to try something new.
- I'm having a caffeine-free week. You should try it.
- Have you ever tried windsurfing?
- Try these shoes for size—they should fit you.
- She tried the door, but it was locked.
- try something on somebody/something The treatment has not yet been tried on patients.
- try doing something John isn't here. Try phoning his mobile.
There is sometimes a difference between try to do something and try doing something: You should try to eat more fruit. means ‘You should make an effort to eat more fruit.’; You should try eating more fruit. means ‘You should see if eating more fruit will help you’ (to feel better, for example). However, in some cases there is no real difference in meaning: I tried to call a plumber. can mean the same as I tried calling a plumber. : both mean ‘I tried and failed to call a plumber.’
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- desperately
- frantically
- furiously
- …
verb + try
- decide to
- dare (somebody) to
- bother to
- …
phrases
- be just trying to do something
- be only trying to do something
- give up trying
- …
See full entry
[transitive] [often passive] to examine evidence in court and decide whether somebody is innocent or guilty
- try somebody (for something) He was tried for murder.
- try something The case was tried before a jury.
Topics Law and justiceb2

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French trier ‘sift’, of unknown origin. Sense 1 of the noun dates from the early 17th cent.

Idioms

do/try your damnedest (to do something)

(informal) to try as hard as you can (to do something)
- She did her damnedest to get it done on time.

do/try your level best (to do something)

to do as much as you can to try to achieve somethingTopics Successc2

not for want/lack of trying

used to say that although somebody has not succeeded in something, they have tried very hard
- They haven't won a game yet, but it isn't for want of trying.
- They lost the game, but not for lack of trying.
Topics Difficulty and failurec2

these things are sent to try us

(saying) used to say that you should accept an unpleasant situation or event because you cannot change it

tried and tested/trusted (British English)

(North American English tried and true)

that you have used or relied on in the past successfully
- a tried and tested method for solving the problem
More Like This Alliteration in idioms
Alliteration in idioms
- belt and braces
- black and blue
- born and bred
- chalk and cheese
- chop and change
- done and dusted
- down and dirty
- in dribs and drabs
- eat somebody out of house and home
- facts and figures
- fast and furious
- first and foremost
- forgive and forget
- hale and hearty
- hem and haw
- kith and kin
- mix and match
- part and parcel
- puff and pant
- to rack and ruin
- rant and rave
- risk life and limb
- short and sweet
- signed and sealed
- spic and span
- through thick and thin
- this and that
- top and tail
- tried and tested
- wax and wane

try/do your damnedest (to do something)

(informal) to try as hard as you can (to do something)
- She tried her damnedest to get it done on time.

try your hand (at something)

to do something such as an activity or a sport for the first time

try it on (with somebody) (British English, informal, disapproving)

to behave badly towards somebody or try to get something from them, even though you know this will make them angry
- Children often try it on with new teachers.
to try to start a sexual relationship with somebody

try your luck (at something)

to do something that involves risk or luck, hoping to succeed
- My grandparents emigrated to Canada to try their luck there.
Topics Successc2

try somebody’s patience

to make somebody feel impatient
- His stubbornness would try the patience of a saint.

try

noun

/traɪ/

(plural tries)

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[usually singular] an act of trying to do something synonym attempt
- I doubt they'll be able to help but it's worth a try (= worth asking them).
- try at doing something Why don't you have a try at convincing him?
- (North American English) The US negotiators decided to make another try at reaching a settlement.
- try at something This is my first try at fiction.
- (informal) ‘What's that behind you?’ ‘Nice try (= at making me turn round), but you'll have to do better than that!’
Extra Examples
- Never mind—it was a good try. Better luck next time.
- She passed the test on the first try.
- She's having another try at the marathon.
- her second try at a Broadway musical
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- good
- nice
- another
- …
verb + try
- have
- give something
- be worth
- …
preposition
- try at
See full entry
[usually singular] an act of trying something new or different to see if it is good, suitable, etc.
- I don't think I'll be any good at tennis, but I'll give it a try.
(in rugby) an act of scoring points by touching the ground behind your opponents’ goal line with the ball
- to score a try
- an excellent try by winger Neil Lang
Topics Sports: ball and racket sportsc2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- dazzling
- excellent
- good
- …
verb + try
- get
- go over for
- score
- …
preposition
- try against
- try by
- try from
- …
See full entry

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French trier ‘sift’, of unknown origin. Sense 1 of the noun dates from the early 17th cent.