(tries, ~ing, tried)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ to do something, you want to do it, and you take action which you hope will help you to do it.
He secretly tried to block her advancement in the Party...
Does it annoy you if others do things less well than you would, or don’t seem to ~ hard enough?...
I tried calling him when I got here but he wasn’t at home...
No matter how bad you feel, keep ~ing.
VERB: V to-inf, V adv, V -ing, V
•
Try is also a noun.
It wasn’t that she’d really expected to get any money out of him; it had just seemed worth a ~...
N-COUNT
2.
To ~ and do something means to ~ to do it. (INFORMAL)
I must ~ and see him.
VERB: V and inf
3.
If you ~ for something, you make an effort to get it or achieve it.
My partner and I have been ~ing for a baby for two years...
He said he was going to ~ for first place next year.
VERB: V for n, V for n
4.
If you ~ something new or different, you use it, do it, or experience it in order to discover its qualities or effects.
It’s best not to ~ a new recipe for the first time on such an important occasion...
I have tried painting the young shoots with weed poisoner, but this does not kill them off.
VERB: V n, V -ing
•
Try is also a noun.
If you’re still sceptical about exercising, we can only ask you to trust us and give it a ~.
N-COUNT: usu sing
5.
If you ~ a particular place or person, you go to that place or person because you think that they may be able to provide you with what you want.
Have you tried the local music shops?
VERB: V n
6.
If you ~ a door or window, you ~ to open it.
Bob tried the door. To his surprise it opened.
VERB: V n
7.
When a person is tried, he or she has to appear in a law court and is found innocent or guilty after the judge and jury have heard the evidence. When a legal case is tried, it is considered in a court of law.
He suggested that those responsible should be tried for crimes against humanity...
Whether he is innocent or guilty is a decision that will be made when the case is tried in court...
The military court which tried him excluded two of his lawyers...
VERB: be V-ed for n, be V-ed, V n
8.
In the game of rugby, a ~ is the action of scoring by putting the ball down behind the goal line of the opposing team.
The French, who led 21-3 at half time, scored eight tries.
N-COUNT
9.
see also tried , ~ing
10.
If you say that something fails but not for want of ~ing or not for lack of ~ing, you mean that everything possible was done to make it succeed.
Not all is perfect, but it isn’t for want of ~ing.
PHRASE: with neg, it v-link PHR, PHR with cl
11.
to ~ your best: see best
to ~ your hand: see hand
to ~ your luck: see luck
to ~ someone’s patience: see patience