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Definition of try verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

try

verb
 OPAL S
 
/traɪ/
 
/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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  1.  
     [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 infinitivesVerbs usually followed by infinitives
    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 Dictionaryadverb
    • 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
  2.  
     [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 Dictionaryadverb
    • 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
  3. [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
    4. 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)
  1. (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)
  1. to do as much as you can to try to achieve somethingTopics Successc2
not for want/lack of trying
  1. 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
  1. (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)
  1. 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 idiomsAlliteration in idioms
try/do your damnedest (to do something)
  1. (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)
  1. to do something such as an activity or a sport for the first time
try it on (with somebody) (British English, informal, disapproving)
  1. 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.
  2. to try to start a sexual relationship with somebody
try your luck (at something)
  1. 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
  1. to make somebody feel impatient
    • His stubbornness would try the patience of a saint.
See try in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee try in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: try

Nearby words

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noun
 
 
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