Both these words can be verbs or nouns. The other forms of try are tries, trying, tried.
If you try to do something, you make an effort to do it.
You can also try and do something. There is no difference in meaning, but try and do is used in conversation and less formal writing. In formal English, use try to do.
Be Careful!
You can only use and after the base form of try that is, when you are using it as an imperative or infinitive, or after a modal. You cannot say, for example, 'I was trying and help her' or 'I was trying and helping her'.
If you try doing something, you do it in order to find out how useful, effective, or enjoyable it is.
If you attempt to do something, you try to do it. Attempt is a more formal word than try.
Be Careful!
You don't say 'The crowd attempted and break through or 'The crowd attempted breaking through'.
When someone tries to do something, you can refer to what they do as a try or an attempt. Try is normally used only in conversation and less formal writing. In formal English, you usually talk about an attempt.
You say that someone has a try at something or gives something a try.
You say that someone makes an attempt to do something.
| Imperative |
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| try |
| try |
| Noun | 1. | try - earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something; "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try"batting - (baseball) the batter's attempt to get on base best - the supreme effort one can make; "they did their best" worst - the weakest effort or poorest achievement one is capable of; "it was the worst he had ever done on a test" activity - any specific behavior; "they avoided all recreational activity" bid, play - an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for power"; "he made a bid to gain attention" fling, go, offer, whirl, crack, pass - a usually brief attempt; "he took a crack at it"; "I gave it a whirl" essay - a tentative attempt foray - an initial attempt (especially outside your usual areas of competence); "scientists' forays into politics" contribution, share, part - the part played by a person in bringing about a result; "I am proud of my contribution in advancing the project"; "they all did their share of the work" liberation - the attempt to achieve equal rights or status; "she worked for women's liberation" mug's game - a futile or unprofitable endeavor power play, squeeze play, squeeze - an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power; "she laughed at this sexual power play and walked away" seeking - an attempt to acquire or gain something stab, shot - informal words for any attempt or effort; "he gave it his best shot"; "he took a stab at forecasting" shot - an attempt to score in a game struggle, battle - an energetic attempt to achieve something; "getting through the crowd was a real struggle"; "he fought a battle for recognition" takeover attempt - an attempt to take control of a corporation |
| Verb | 1. | try - make an effort or attempt; "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"pick up the gauntlet, take a dare - be dared to do something and attempt it act, move - perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel" struggle, fight - make a strenuous or labored effort; "She struggled for years to survive without welfare"; "He fought for breath" have a go, give it a try - make an attempt at something; "I never sat on a horse before but I'll give it a go" grope - search blindly or uncertainly; "His mind groped to make the connection" endeavor, endeavour, strive - attempt by employing effort; "we endeavor to make our customers happy" give it a try, give it a whirl - try; "let's give it a whirl!" adventure, gamble, run a risk, take a chance, take chances, risk, chance, hazard - take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome; "When you buy these stocks you are gambling" lay on the line, put on the line, risk - expose to a chance of loss or damage; "We risked losing a lot of money in this venture"; "Why risk your life?"; "She laid her job on the line when she told the boss that he was wrong" |
| 2. | try - put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to; "This approach has been tried with good results"; "Test this recipe"pass judgment, evaluate, judge - form a critical opinion of; "I cannot judge some works of modern art"; "How do you evaluate this grant proposal?" "We shouldn't pass judgment on other people" verify, control - check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard; "Are you controlling for the temperature?" float - circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with; "The Republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform" field-test - test something under the conditions under which it will actually be used; "The Army field tested the new tanks" | |
| 3. | try - put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of; "The football star was tried for the murder of his wife"; "The judge tried both father and son in separate trials"decide, make up one's mind, determine - reach, make, or come to a decision about something; "We finally decided after lengthy deliberations" court-martial - subject to trial by court-martial | |
| 4. | try - take a sample of; "Try these new crackers"; "Sample the regional dishes"ingest, consume, have, take in, take - serve oneself to, or consume regularly; "Have another bowl of chicken soup!"; "I don't take sugar in my coffee" degust - taste with relish; "degust this wonderful soup" | |
| 5. | try - examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process; "The jury had heard all the evidence"; "The case will be tried in California" | |
| 6. | try - give pain or trouble to; "I've been sorely tried by these students" | |
| 7. | try - test the limits of; "You are trying my patience!"afflict - cause great unhappiness for; distress; "she was afflicted by the death of her parents" rack - stretch to the limits; "rack one's brains" | |
| 8. | try - melt (fat or lard) in order to separate out impurities; "try the yak butter"; "render fat in a casserole" cookery, cooking, preparation - the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat; "cooking can be a great art"; "people are needed who have experience in cookery"; "he left the preparation of meals to his wife" | |
| 9. | try - put on a garment in order to see whether it fits and looks nice; "Try on this sweater to see how it looks" |