Try

Definition: Try

Try

Noun

1. Earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something: "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try".

Verb

1. Make an effort or attempt; "He tried to shake off his fears"; "The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps"; "The police attempted to stop the thief"; "He sought to improve himself"; "She always seeks to do good in the world".

2. Put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to; "This approach has been tried with good results"; "Test this recipe".

3. Put on trial or sit as the judge at the trial of; "The football star was tried for the murder of his wife"; "The judge tried both father and son in separate trials".

4. Take a sample of; "Try these new crackers"; "Sample the regional dishes".

5. Examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process; "The jury had heard all the evidence"; "The case will be tried in California".

6. Give pain or trouble to; "I've been sorely tried by these students".

7. Test the limits of; "You are trying my patience!".

8. Melt (fat, lard, etc.) in order to separate out impurities; "try the yak butter"; "render fat in a casserole".

9. Put on a garment in order to see whether it fits and looks nice; "Try on this sweater to see how it looks".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "try" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references)

Note: Try \Try\, transitive verb. [imperfect & past participle. tried; Trying.]. (references)

try

Try

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

Synonyms: Try

Experiment

Verb: experiment; essay; (endeavor); try, try out, assay; make an experiment, make a trial of; give a trial to; put on trial, subject to trial; experiment upon; rehearse; put to the test, bring to the test, submit to the test, submit to the proof; prove, verify, test, touch, practice upon, try one's strength; road-test, test drive, take for a spin; test fly.

Judgment

Settle; pass an opinion, give an opinion; decide, try, pronounce, rule; pass judgment, pass sentence; sentence, doom; find; give judgment, deliver judgment; adjudge, adjudicate; arbitrate, award, report; bring in a verdict; make absolute, set a question at rest; confirm; (assent).

Use

Ply, work, wield, handle, manipulate; play, play off; exert, exercise, practice, avail oneself of, profit by, resort to, have recourse to, recur to, take betake oneself to; take up with, take advantage of; lay one's hands on, try.

Crosswords: Try

My parents will try to find me. (American Beauty; writing credit: Alan Ball)

Do not try and bend the spoon (The Matrix; writing credit: Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski.)

I couldn't have put it better myself, Jan. But I'll try anyway (The Brady Bunch Movie; writing credit: Betty Thomas, written by Laurice Elehwany, Rick Copp, Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner)

Fill a man full o' lead, stick him in the ground an' then read words on him. Why, when you've killed a man, why try to read the Lord in as a partner on the job (Red River; writing credit: Borden Chase)

You know you wreck everything you touch, Why don't you try and make something for a change (Lilo & Stitch; writing credit: Chris Sanders)

Or try again (Try Again; performing artist: Aaliyah)

Dont wanna try don't wanna try i bout just had enough its been a rough road (Don't Wanna Try; performing artist: FRANKIE J)

And I'll try to keep my cool, but I'm failin' (I Try; performing artist: Macy Gray)

Don't you try to hide your secrets (Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche); performing artist: 98 Degrees; writing credit: A. Bagge, A. Birgisson, C. Ogalde)

They can try but we won't let them (Fly Away From Here; performing artist: Aerosmith)

Triumph is "umph" added to try. (references; author: unknown)

Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant (references; author: unknown)

Can't sleep?  Try counting your blessings. (references; author: unknown)

Always try to be modest and be proud of it! (references; author: unknown)

If at first you don't succeed, try management. (references; author: unknown)

Try fat flat flounders. (references; author: unknown)

Paramount Headliner: Try and Catch Me (1947)

Let's Try Again (1934)

You Try Somebody Else (1932)

Just Try to Picture Me (1926)

The Try Out (1916)

I Don't Wanna Try (performing artist: FRANKIE J)

One More Try (performing artist: George Michael)

TRY THE IMPOSSIBLE  (performing artist: Lee Andrews & The Hearts )

I Try (performing artist: Macy Gray)

TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS  (performing artist: Otis Redding )

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

References

• Galliford Try Plc: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)

• Try Group Plc: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)

  (more reference examples)

Books

• 52 Things to Try Once in Your Life (52 Series) (reference)

• Please Try to Remember the First of Octember! (reference)

• TRY (reference)

  (more book examples)

Periodicals

• Try Us (reference)

• Try Us National Women-owned Business Directory (reference)

  (more periodical examples)

Theater & Movies

• Spock's Beard - Don't Try This At Home/ Live in Holland/ The Making of V (reference)

• The Slayers Try DVD Collection (reference)

• The Slayers Try - Try Again (reference)

  (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Music

• Ya Gotta Try (reference)

• Livin Above Your Head / Try Some of This (reference)

• Try Again (reference)

• Try Whistling This (reference)

  (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

Consumer Goods

• Freud DB006 6" Try Square (reference)

  (more baby examples; more wireless phone examples; more garden examples; more kitchen examples; more tool examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

This is Gordon Isaacs, the first patient treated with the linear accelerator (radiation therapy) for retinoblastoma in 1957. Gordon's right eye was removed January 11, 1957 because the cancer had spread. His left eye, however, had only a localized tumor that prompted Henry Kaplan to try to treat it with the electron beam. Gordon is now living in the east bay, and his vision in the left eye is normal. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist.

Shown are the hands of a scientist, under a sterile hood, preparing the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) vaccinia used to try to prevent cancer. The scientist is diluting the concentrated vaccinnia virus into a dose level appropriate for administration to a patient. This vaccinnia marks any cancer cells expressing the CEA. Credit: John Keith (photographer).

Domesticated animals afflicted with dumb rabies may become increasingly depressed, and try to hide in isolated places, while wild animals seem to lose their fear of human beings, often appearing unusually friendly. Credit: CDC.

Hey Mike, let's try fishing somewhere else They don't seem to be biting here Fishermen followed bad advice about where the fish were biting Building crew off PEIRCE on Eleuthera Island. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection.

One dog I didn't try to pet Drying fish, fish nets, and an underutilized husky. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection.

Moonrise over Gig Harbor as salmon fishermen try their luck in the shallows off the spit. Pleasure boaters are returning to harbor as the day ends. Mt. Rainier is visible in the left center. Credit: America's Coastlines.

Contractors use deep plows to try to restore fetility to flood-damaged cropland. Credit: Charlie Rahm.

A troop of Brownies from Portland, OR try on their hard hats. Credit: Scott Brayton.

Students try to perform an activity with simulated impaired vision. Credit: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health.

A couple try an interactive station at the National Eye Institute's traveling exhibit, VISION. Credit: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Clause 6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. (reference)

Nay more, they are reactionary, for they try to roll back the wheel of history. (reference)

A special tribunal will be constituted to try the accused, thereby assuring him the guarantees essential to the right of defence. (reference)

I can therefore allow my mind, with the experience of a lifetime, to play over the problems which beset us on the morrow of our absolute victory in arms, and to try to make sure with what strength I have that what has been gained with so much sacrifice and suffering shall be preserved for the future glory and safety of mankind. ("Iron Curtain" Speech)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Now you have nothing to try for.

I try the rocks, and I think it cool That they laugh with such an excess of glee, As I heavily slip into every pool That skirts the cold cold Sea.

Madeleine, lying almost flat under the fearful weight, was twice seen to try in vain to bring his elbows and knees nearer together

Try to imagine the awful meaning of this

Women try their luck; men risk theirs

Never try to out stubborn a cat.

Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch, To try if thou be current gold indeed

Well, try to get some freedom to do.

There was a cow dung in the path, and I must needs try my activity by attempting to leap over it.

What old people say you cannot do, you try and find that you can.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

Try to avoid crowds. (references)

Try sucking on ice chips. (references)

Try something simple first. (references)

Business

Many importers try to avoid using letters of credit and paying cash in advance. (references)

Suppliers should try to develop good relationships with potential Saudi clients. (references)

Some foreign companies use their agents based in Europe and try to sell from there. (references)

Children

Zimbabwe

There was a large volume of rape cases in the Harare victim-friendly courts (VFC), which consist of individual magistrates designated to try family cases. (references)

Civil Liberties

Vietnam

Senior government and party leaders traveled to several provinces to try to resolve citizen complaints. (references)

Uzbekistan

The authorities tolerate many Christian evangelical groups, but often harass those that try to convert Muslims to Christianity. (references)

Economic History

Singapore

Singaporeans like to try newer and more exotic fruit. (references)

Iraq

Special courts try broadly defined national security cases. (references)

Australia

As educated, affluent consumers, Australians are willing to try new products. (references)

Human Rights

Sri Lanka

In criminal cases, juries try defendants in public. (references)

Libya

Special revolutionary courts try political offenses. (references)

Jamaica

Resident magistrates try lesser offenses (misdemeanors). (references)

Minorities

Azerbaijan

Most shield their identity or try to leave Azerbaijan. (references)

Cote d'Ivoire

In July the 15 Guere were released, and the 2 groups agreed to try to live together in peace. (references)

India

Throughout the year, pan-Islamic militants continued to try to drive all non-Muslims out of Kashmir. (references)

Political Economy

Cyprus

Cyprus may try to obtain derogation for this sector but, even if it succeeds, these derogations will probably have a limited duration. (references)

RUSSIA

The Russian government and CBR continue to coordinate their fiscal and monetary policies to try to avoid substantial real ruble appreciation. (references)

PORTUGAL

The group collaborated with the ILO in 1998 and 1999 in a first of its kind survey to try to ascertain the extent of child labor in Portugal. (references)

Political Rights

Burundi

It calls for the creation of an international tribunal to try crimes of genocide. (references)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The HDZ engaged in a systematic campaign of threats and intimidation, most intensively in April and May, to try to force Croats to back its drive for Croat self-government. (references)

Trade

Canada

The standards organizations try to avoid duplication of responsibility, but there is some overlap. (references)

Travel

Yemen

Chewing qat is not obligatory but your host will be gratified if you give it a try. (references)

Indonesia

Indonesian firms hoping to conduct business with foreigners generally try to employ some English speakers. (references)

Bangladesh

Bangladeshi business executives are usually very courteous, and try to make their foreign guests feel at ease. (references)

Women

Russia

Employers also try to avoid the requirement of 3-year paid maternity leave for childcare. (references)

Malaysia

There still are many cultural obstacles to women who try to pursue sexual harassment charges. (references)

Central African Republic

The courts try very few cases of spousal abuse, although litigants cite these abuses during divorce trials and civil suits. (references)

Worker Rights

Poland

If they try to flee, their legs may be broken. (references)

Turkey

However, private sector employers continued to try to eliminate unions. (references)

Equatorial Guinea

Members of the National Assembly reportedly try to mediate employee-worker disputes over wages or dismissals. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Expressions using "try": can i try it on? ♦ can you try later? ♦ do not try to put me in the wrong ♦ do try and come! ♦ do try to come! ♦ give it a try ♦ give it the old college try ♦ have a try ♦ have a try at smth. ♦ it would be well to try again ♦ make a try at smth. ♦ To try a fall ♦ To try conclusions ♦ To try on ♦ try a case ♦ try a prisoner ♦ try again ♦ try and do smth. ♦ try another tack ♦ try back ♦ try before court martial ♦ try box ♦ try cock ♦ try conclusions with smb. ♦ try for ♦ try hard ♦ try in all its phases ♦ try in vain ♦ try it on ♦ try it on! ♦ try judgment ♦ try on ♦ try one's best ♦ try one's fortune ♦ try one's luck ♦ try ones patience ♦ try one's patience ♦ try one's prentice hand at ♦ try one's strength ♦ try out ♦ try out and adjust ♦ try over ♦ try smb.'s temper ♦ try square ♦ try the patience of ♦ try to ♦ try to be all things to all men ♦ try to be original ♦ try to be too wise ♦ try to buy time ♦ try to commit suicide ♦ try to convince ♦ try to earn ♦ try to find ♦ try to find out ♦ try to get ♦ try to get pally ♦ try to know ♦ try to obtain ♦ try to please ♦ try to resolve ♦ try to smile ♦ try to speak first ♦ try to win. Additional references.

Beginning with "try": try-ace, try-and-fail, Try-a-sport, try-before-you-buy, try-count, try-cut, try-glut, try-hard, try-iffic, try-ing, try-less, try-line, try-on, try-out, try-outers, try-outs, try-planes, try-saving, try-scorer, try-scorers, try-scoring, Try-square, try-tally.

Ending with "try": eight-try, seven-try, three-try, two-try.

Containing "try": turn-up-and-try-it, you-know-the-scent-now-try-the-bath-range.

Afrikaans

probeer (attempt, test), aanpak (attempt, test), beproewe (afflict, attempt, grieve, test), beproef (afflict, attempt, grieve, test). (various references)

Albanian

tentoj (attempt), tentativë (attempt), vë në provë, provoj (assay, attest, demonstrate, deprive, essay, establish, experience, fit on, make good, manifest, presume, pretend, prove, sample, savor, savour, show, substantiate, suffer, taste, test, try on, try out, validate, venture, witness), provo, provë (assay, audition, averment, demonstration, evidence, experiment, fact, fitting, flier, prill, probation, prolusion, proof, reasoning, rehearsal, run through, rush, school, seal, sign, substantiation, taste, tasting, test, touch, trial, try on, try out, witness), pastroj (abrade, char, clarify, clean, cleanse, clear up, defecate, depurate, deterge, eliminate, grub, gut, lustrate, pick, purge, rarefy, rectify, refine, scavenge, scour, scrub, sweep), përpjekje (attempt, crack, drive, effort, endeavor, endeavour, exertion, offer, patience, prolusion, pull, push, skirmish, stroke, venture, whack), përpiqem (aim, attempt, bang, endeavor, endeavour, essay, exert, exert oneself, offer, pretend, seek, strive, take trouble), orvatem (attempt, endeavor, endeavour, strive), ngjëroj (taste), mundohem (agonize, endeavor, endeavour, fag, labor, labour, plod, sweat, toil), mendoj (believe, conceive, consider, contemplate, deem, deliberate, dream up, elaborate, expect, fancy, feel, figure, guess, hold, imagine, judge, mean, opine, ponder, rate, reason, reckon for, reflect, regard, repute, say, study, suppose, take, think, Trow, understand, ween), lodh (badger, beat, fatigue, harass, irk, jade, overdo, overdrive, overstrain, overstrain oneself, strain, tire, Tucker, wear, wear down, wear out, work), gjykoj (adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, consider, damn, daresay, denounce, impeach, judge, look in the matter, reason, referee, think about, umpire). (various references)

Arabic 

‏مهد للجنس (advance, proposition), ‏محاولة (assay, attempt, bid, effort, endeavor, endeavour, essay, fling, go, shot, trial, whirl), ‏نظر في قضية, ‏قام بمحاولة, ‏حاكم (adjudicate, administrative, be judged, dynast, governor, in, in power, judge, magistrate, mete, proconsular, ruling, stand trial), ‏حاول (aim, attempt, endeavor, endeavour, essay, give it a try, have a try, make a bid, make up, seek, study), ‏تعب (failure, fatigue, go flat out, grow tired, languishment, languor, lassitude, pan, punish, stress, take trouble, tell on, tire, tiredness, toil, tucker, weariness, weary), ‏تجربة (assay, attempt, experience, experiment, go, proof, shot, test, trial, whirl), ‏جرب حظه, ‏جرب (experience, experiment, give it a try, give it a whirl, have a go, pilot, proof, scab, tempt, test, try out), ‏إختبر (examine, experience, prove, tempt, test), ‏إجتهد (dig, lay out, read up), ‏أرهق (beat, break, exhaust, fatigue, gruel, harass, labor, labour, lie, load, overload, overstrain, pump, run down, saddle, soak, squeeze, tax, tucker, weary, weigh, weigh down, weight), ‏بحث (brochure, cast about, consideration, discuss, discussion, disquisition, drilling for, examine, exploration, explore, fumble, hunt for, inquest, inquire, inquisition, investigate, investigation, look, look for, looking for, poke about, probe, prospection, pry, pursue, quest, research, retrieve, rummage, scrounge, scrutinize, search, see, see into, seek, seeking, sought, spy, study, talk over, think through, treatise, ventilate). (various references)

Asturian

tentar de (to try), probar (to try on). (various references)

Aymara

yant'asiña (to try on), yant'aña (to try), yanaña (to try). (various references)

Basque

ahalegindu (try to). (various references)

Bemba

ukwesha mo (to try on), ukwesha (to try). (various references)

Blackfoot

ssanisttsi (to try). (various references)

Bulgarian 

пробвам (attempt, essay, experiment, give it a try, sample, try on), дразня (annoy, bait, bosh, bugger about, bullyrag, burn up, dig, exacerbate, fetch, fray, fuss, gall, gravel, gripe, harass, irritate, jar, jive, mad, madden, nag, niggle, nip, offend, peeve, pinprick, piss off, play up, provoke, rag, rasp, rib, ride, rile, rub, spite, tease, titillate, twit, vex, worry), изпитвам (assay, condition, essay, examine, experience, feel, proof, prove, question, quiz, sample, see, test, undergo), изпробвам (fit, proof, prove, task, test, try out), измъчвам (afflict, agonize, ail, anguish, crucify, excruciate, fester, harass, lacerate, martyr, martyrize, play up, prey, push, rack, rankle, ride, scourge, smite, torture, victimize, weigh on), поставям на изпитание (task, tempt), постаравам се (do smb.'s best, lay out), претопявам (melt, melt down, pulp), давам под съд (proceed against, prosecute), проба (assay, attempt, audition, experiment, hallmark, proof, sample, taste, tentative, test, trial, try on, try out), старая се (endeavor, endeavour, exert oneself, labor, labour, study), експеримент (experiment), мъча се (agonize, labor, labour, seek, suffer, toil, tug, writhe), опит (attempt, crack, essay, experience, experiment, go, go off, shot, shy, stab, tentative, trial, whack, whirl), опитвам (attempt, essay, experiment, partake, sample, taste), опитвам се (essay, give it a try, offer, seek), опитване (bid, sampling, tasting), отделям чрез топене, топя (dissolve, found, fuse, melt, render, run, smelt, steep, thaw, unfreeze), пречиствам чрез топене. (various references)

Catalan

provar (to try). (various references)

Cebuano

mosulay (to try), magsukod (to try on). (various references)

Chamorro

para ma chagi umusa (to try on), para ma chagi (to try). (various references)

Chinese 

讅 (investigate), 設法 (think of a way), 尝试 (Attempt, Essayed, Essaying, tries, trying). (various references)

Cornish

assaya (to try). (various references)

Croatian

probati. (various references)

Czech

zkusit (to try, try on, venture). (various references)

Danish

prøve (attempt, test), forsøge (attempt, test). (various references)

Dutch

zich inspannen (aim, attempt, bother, endeavour), streven (aim, attempt, bother, efforts, endeavour, strive for, take steps, undertake), proberen (attempt, test, try on), pogen (aim, attempt, bother, endeavour, take steps, undertake). (various references)

Ecuadorian Quechua

mallina (to try). (various references)

Esperanto

provi (attempt, test). (various references)

Estonian

proovida. (various references)

Faeroese

strevast (aim, attempt, bother, endeavour, strive for), sjabba (aim, attempt, bother, endeavour), royna (aim, attempt, endeavour, go through, live to see, take steps, test, undertake), kýta seg (aim, attempt, bother, endeavour). (various references)

Farsi 

محاکمه کردن (Probate), کوشیدن (Endeavor, Strive, Tug), کوشش کردن (Assay, Attempt, Bend, Labor, Peg, Strive, Struggle), کوشش (Assay, Attempt, Bustle, Effort, Endeavor, Fist, Labor, Muss, Scramble, Strain, Stretch, Trial, Tug), سنجیدن (Assay, Counterweight, Deliberate, Essay, Evaluate, Measure, Meter, Ponder, Weigh), سعی کردن (Hear), جداکردن (Abrupt, Abstract, Amputate, Analyze, Calve, Chop, Cleave, Cutoff, Detach, Disconnect, Dissociate, Disunite, Divide, Drawoff, Insulate, Intercept, Part, Partition, Rive, Rupture, Select, Separate, Sequester, Sever, Uncouple, Unlink, Untwist, Unzip), امتحان (Assay, Examination, Experiment, Quiz, Shibboleth, Temptation, Trial), ازمون (Examination, Sample, Shibboleth, Test), ازمودن (Essay, Examine, Grope), ازمایش (Assay, Examination, Experience, Experiment, Shy, Temptation, Test, Trial, Tryout). (various references)

Finnish

koettaa (aim, attempt, bother, endeavour, sample, seek, test). (various references)

French

essayer (to try, try on), peiner (have trouble, travail). (various references)

French Canadian

essayer (to try). (various references)

Frisian

probearje (to try), oanprobearje (to try on). (various references)