try Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
    effort; endeavor; attempt; endeavour.
    • made an effort to cover all the reading material
    • wished him luck in his endeavor
    • she gave it a good try
  2. verb make an effort or attempt
    attempt; seek; essay; assay.
    • 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
  3. verb put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
    essay; prove; examine; try out; test.
    • This approach has been tried with good results
    • Test this recipe
  4. verb put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of
    judge; adjudicate.
    • The football star was tried for the murder of his wife
    • The judge tried both father and son in separate trials
  5. verb take a sample of
    sample; taste; try out.
    • Try these new crackers
    • Sample the regional dishes
  6. verb examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process
    hear.
    • The jury had heard all the evidence
    • The case will be tried in California
  7. verb give pain or trouble to
    • I've been sorely tried by these students
  8. verb test the limits of
    strain; stress.
    • You are trying my patience!
  9. verb melt (fat or lard) in order to separate out impurities
    render.
    • try the yak butter
    • render fat in a casserole
  10. verb put on a garment in order to see whether it fits and looks nice
    try on.
    • Try on this sweater to see how it looks

WordNet

Try transitive verb
Etymology
OE. trien to select, pick out, F. trier to cull, to out, LL. tritare to triturate (hence the sense of, to thresh, to separate the grain from the straw, to select), L. terere, tritum, to rub, bruise, grind, thresh. See Trite.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle tried ; present participle & verbal noun Trying
Definitions
  1. To divide or separate, as one sort from another; to winnow; to sift; to pick out; -- frequently followed by out; as, to try out the wild corn from the good. Obs. Sir T. Elyot.
  2. To purify or refine, as metals; to melt out, and procure in a pure state, as oil, tallow, lard, etc. Shak.
    The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Ps. xii. 6.
    For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Ps. lxvi. 10.
  3. To prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality; to examine; to prove; to test; as, to try weights or measures by a standard; to try a man's opinions.
    Let the end try the man. Shak.
  4. To subject to severe trial; to put to the test; to cause suffering or trouble to.
    Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased. Milton.
    These are the times that try men's souls. Thomas Paine (1776)
  5. To experiment with; to test by use; as, to try a remedy for disease; to try a horse.
    Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me. Shak.
    To ease her cares the force of sleep she tries. Swift.
  6. To strain; to subject to excessive tests; as, the light tries his eyes; repeated disappointments try one's patience.
  7. (Law) To examine or investigate judicially; to examine by witnesses or other judicial evidence and the principles of law; as, to try a cause, or a criminal.
  8. To settle; to decide; to determine; specifically, to decide by an appeal to arms; as, to try rival claims by a duel; to try conclusions.
    Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. Shak.
  9. To experience; to have or gain knowledge of by experience. Milton.
    Or try the Libyan heat or Scythian cold. Dryden.
  10. To essay; to attempt; to endeavor.
    Let us try . . . to found a path. Milton.
    Syn. -- To attempt; endeavor; strive; aim; examine. -- Try, Attempt. To try is the generic, to attempt is the specific, term. When we try, we are usually uncertain as to success; when we attempt, we have always some definite object in view which we seek to accomplish. We may be indifferent as to the result of a trial, but we rarely attempt anything without a desire to succeed.
    He first deceased: she for a little tried To live without him; liked it not, and died. Sir H. Wotton.
    Alack, I am afraid they have a waked, And 't is not done. The attempt, and not the deed, Confounds us. Shak.
Try intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To exert strength; to endeavor; to make an effort or an attempt; as, you must try hard if you wish to learn.
  2. To do; to fare; as, how do you try! Prov. Eng.
Try noun
Definitions
  1. A screen, or sieve, for grain. Obs. or Prov. Eng. Holland.
  2. Act of trying; attempt; experiment; trial.
    This breaking of his has been but a try for his friends. Shak.
Try adjective
Etymology
Cf. Try, v. t.
Definitions
  1. Refined; select; excellent; choice. Obs. "Sugar that is try." Chaucer.

Webster 1913