tried

[ trahyd ]

/ traɪd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tried ON THESAURUS.COM

verb

simple past tense and past participle of try.

adjective

tested and proved good, dependable, or trustworthy.

subjected to hardship, worry, trouble, or the like.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tried

tired tried (see synonym study at tired¹)

Words nearby tried

tridermic, tridimensional, triduum, tridymite, triecious, tried, tried and true, tried-and-true, triella, triene, triennial

Definition for tried (2 of 2)

try

[ trahy ]

/ traɪ /

verb (used with object), tried, try·ing.

to attempt to do or accomplish: Try it before you say it's simple.

to test the effect or result of (often followed by out): to try a new method; to try a recipe out.

to endeavor to evaluate by experiment or experience: to try a new field; to try a new book.

to test the quality, value, fitness, accuracy, etc., of: Will you try a spoonful of this and tell me what you think of it?

Law. to examine and determine judicially, as a cause; determine judicially the guilt or innocence of (a person).

to put to a severe test; subject to strain, as of endurance, patience, affliction, or trouble; tax: to try one's patience.

to attempt to open (a door, window, etc.) in order to find out whether it is locked: Try all the doors before leaving.

to melt down (fat, blubber, etc.) to obtain the oil; render (usually followed by out).

Archaic.

to determine the truth or right of (a quarrel or question) by test or battle (sometimes followed by out).
to find to be right by test or experience.

verb (used without object), tried, try·ing.

to make an attempt or effort; strive: Try to complete the examination.

Nautical. to lie to in heavy weather under just sufficient sail to head into the wind.

noun, plural tries.

an attempt or effort: to have a try at something.

Rugby. a score of three points earned by advancing the ball to or beyond the opponents' goal line.

Verb Phrases

try on, to put on an article of clothing in order to judge its appearance and fit: You can't really tell how it will look until you try it on.

try out, to use experimentally; test: to try out a new car.

try out for, to compete for (a position, membership, etc.): Over a hundred boys came to try out for the football team.

Origin of try

1250–1300; Middle English trien to try (a legal case) < Anglo-French trier, Old French: to sift, cull, of uncertain origin

SYNONYMS FOR try

1, 10 Try, attempt, endeavor, strive all mean to put forth an effort toward a specific end. Try is the most often used and most general term: to try to decipher a message; to try hard to succeed. Attempt, often interchangeable with try, sometimes suggests the possibility of failure and is often used in reference to more serious or important matters: to attempt to formulate a new theory of motion. Endeavor emphasizes serious and continued exertion of effort, sometimes aimed at dutiful or socially appropriate behavior: to endeavor to fulfill one's obligations. Strive, stresses persistent, vigorous, even strenuous effort, often in the face of obstacles: to strive to overcome a handicap.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR try ON THESAURUS.COM

usage note for try

10. Try followed by and instead of to has been in standard use since the 17th century: The Justice Department has decided to try and regulate jury-selection practices. The construction occurs only with the base form try, not with tries or tried or trying. Although some believe that try and is less formal than try to, both patterns occur in all types of speech and writing.

OTHER WORDS FROM try

pre·try, verb (used with object), pre·tried, pre·try·ing. re·try, verb, re·tried, re·try·ing.

Example sentences from the Web for tried

Have you tried to access the research that your tax dollars finance, almost all of which is kept behind a paywall?

Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers |Michael Schulson |July 27, 2016 |DAILY BEAST
In the meantime, Epstein has tried to use his charitable projects to float him back to the top.

Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking |M.L. Nestel |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
They tried to continue their getaway but had to quickly abandon their vehicle on the Rue de Meaux in the 19th.

Police Hunt for Paris Massacre Suspects |Tracy McNicoll, Christopher Dickey |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
She claims the FBI tried to enlist her as a cooperating source in their investigation.

An Informant, a Missing American, and Juarez’s House of Death: Inside the 12-Year Cold Case of David Castro |Bill Conroy |January 6, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

As he tried to make his way through a crowd of mourners late last month, he looked preoccupied and even disoriented.

What an Iranian Funeral Tells Us About the Wars in Iraq |IranWire |January 6, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
I dreamt of writing books, and I tried it, after taking my degree, but I did not succeed.

The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume III (of 8) |Guy de Maupassant
I expected a blow for that, and tried to look as though I did not, being extremely anxious to return it with effect.

Some Persons Unknown |E. W. Hornung
Her sisters laughed at her fears, and tried to reassure her by overturning the tree-trunk.

The Myths of the North American Indians |Lewis Spence
She tried again now, bemused, and once more gave it up, although somehow this time she did feel a bit nearer success.

The Trial of Callista Blake |Edgar Pangborn
Sledges were at first tried, but they had to be given up as useless.

The Relief of Chitral |George John Younghusband

British Dictionary definitions for tried (1 of 2)

tried

/ (traɪd) /

verb

the past tense and past participle of try

British Dictionary definitions for tried (2 of 2)

try

/ (traɪ) /

verb tries, trying or tried

(when tr, may take an infinitive, sometimes with to replaced by and) to make an effort or attempt he tried to climb a cliff

(tr often foll by out) to sample, test, or give experimental use to (something) in order to determine its quality, worth, etc try her cheese flan

(tr) to put strain or stress on he tries my patience

(tr; often passive) to give pain, affliction, or vexation to: I have been sorely tried by those children

to examine and determine the issues involved in (a cause) in a court of law
to hear evidence in order to determine the guilt or innocence of (an accused)
to sit as judge at the trial of (an issue or person)

(tr) to melt (fat, lard, etc) in order to separate out impurities

(tr usually foll by out) obsolete to extract (a material) from an ore, mixture, etc, usually by heat; refine

noun plural tries

an experiment or trial

an attempt or effort

rugby the act of an attacking player touching the ball down behind the opposing team's goal line, scoring five or, in Rugby League, four points

Also called: try for a point American football an attempt made after a touchdown to score an extra point by kicking a goal or, for two extra points, by running the ball or completing a pass across the opponents' goal line

Word Origin for try

C13: from Old French trier to sort, sift, of uncertain origin

usage for try

The use of and instead of to after try is very common, but should be avoided in formal writing: we must try to prevent (not try and prevent) this happening

Medical definitions for tried

Try

abbr.

tryptophan

Idioms and Phrases with tried

try

In addition to the idioms beginning with try

try on
try one's hand
try one's patience
try out

also see:

old college try

Also see undertried.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tried

verb

adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tried

Words nearby tried

Definition for tried (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), tried, try·ing.

verb (used without object), tried, try·ing.

noun, plural tries.

Verb Phrases

Origin of try

SYNONYMS FOR try

usage note for try

OTHER WORDS FROM try

Example sentences from the Web for tried

British Dictionary definitions for tried (1 of 2)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for tried (2 of 2)

verb tries, trying or tried

noun plural tries

Word Origin for try

usage for try

Medical definitions for tried

abbr.

Idioms and Phrases with tried

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tried

verb

adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tried

Words nearby tried

Definition for tried (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), tried, try·ing.

verb (used without object), tried, try·ing.

noun, plural tries.

Verb Phrases

Origin of try

SYNONYMS FOR try

usage note for try

OTHER WORDS FROM try

Words related to tried

Example sentences from the Web for tried

British Dictionary definitions for tried (1 of 2)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for tried (2 of 2)

verb tries, trying or tried

noun plural tries

Word Origin for try

usage for try

Medical definitions for tried

abbr.

Idioms and Phrases with tried