try
/tɹaɪ/ verb A2- To attempt; to endeavour. Followed by infinitive. · I tried to rollerblade, but I couldn’t.· Can you start the car? —I'll try (to).
- To make an experiment. Usually followed by a present participle. · I tried mixing more white paint to get a lighter shade.
- To put to test. · I shall try my skills on this.
- To test someone's patience. · You are trying my patience.· Don't try me.
- To fight or to make an attempt at an attack. · You wouldn't dare and try me!· You fixin' to try something, fool?
- To receive an imminent attack; to take.
- To taste, sample, etc. · Oh, you need to try the soup of the day!
- To prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality; to examine; to prove; to test. · to try weights or measures by a standard; to try a person's opinions
Plural try · He/she/it tries · Past tried · Past participle tried · -ing form trying
Verb forms
- Base form
- try
- He/she/it
- tries
- Past
- tried
- Past participle
- tried
- -ing form
- trying
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
“No, but you tried to,” she retorted.
“She will soon get over these things.” So saying, Madame de Saint-Méran extended her dry bony hand to Villefort, who, while imprinting a son-in-law’s respectful salute on it, looked at Renée, as much as to say, “I must try and fancy ’tis your dear hand I kiss, as it should have been.”
“But once I had brains, and a heart also; so, having tried them both, I should much rather have a heart.”
“After the crows had gone I thought this over, and decided I would try hard to get some brains.
Other matches
Learn try in real texts
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