try 1 of 2

verb

ˈtrī How to pronounce try (audio)
Definition of trynext
1
as in to attempt
to make an effort to do try to unlock the door will try to call later tonight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stretch
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress you're trying my patience

Synonyms & Similar Words

try

2 of 2

noun

as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something was granted another try at the field goal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb try differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of try are attempt, endeavor, essay, and strive. While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

tried to determine which was the better procedure

When can attempt be used instead of try?

In some situations, the words attempt and try are roughly equivalent. However, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

will attempt to photograph the rare bird

Where would endeavor be a reasonable alternative to try?

The synonyms endeavor and try are sometimes interchangeable, but endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains

When is essay a more appropriate choice than try?

The words essay and try can be used in similar contexts, but essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

will essay a dramatic role for the first time

When is it sensible to use strive instead of try?

While the synonyms strive and try are close in meaning, strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

continues to strive for peace

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of try
Verb
A number of startups have already tried, and mostly failed, to build gadgetry for AI interactions. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 July 2025 And everyone in the NHL is trying to get bigger and meaner because the Panthers keeping winning. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 July 2025
Noun
The Southern Benny biscuit sandwich with sausage gravy, country ham and eggs-over easy is also worth a try. —Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 When your family gets hungry on your next road trip, why not give Chef Zimmern’s recommendation a try and grab a pie to go? —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for try
Recent Examples of Synonyms for try
  1. attempt
  2. stretch
  3. strive
  4. push
  5. seek
  6. test
  7. strain
  8. bother
Verb
  • Only one of these companies, Isar Aerospace, has attempted to launch a rocket into orbit.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025
  • Yoon attempted to impose martial law on the country in December.
    — Joseph Nepomuceno, The Washington Examiner, 9 July 2025
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • Ostensibly intended to protect a church’s autonomy in choosing its spiritual leaders, the exception has since been stretched into a catch-all excuse to deny employees of religious schools all kinds of legal recourse.
    — A.J. Schumann, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2025
  • Carlos Alcaraz of Spain stretches to reach a shot from Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in the third round of the Gentlemen's Singles Competition on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All...
    — Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
Definition of stretch
Verb
  • Founded in 886 by King Alfred the Great, The Royal Mint strives to marry its illustrious history with innovations in sustainable sourcing of precious metals.
    — Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • Dunham, in turn, strives to find new ways of expressing the emotion, through disarming dialogue and affecting tableaux.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 July 2025
Definition of strive
Verb
  • This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025
  • The president has moved aggressively by pushing legal boundaries and testing the limits of executive power.
    — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 July 2025
Definition of push
Verb
  • But a December revolution ended the Assad family’s rule, and the former Islamist militant who leads the new government has sought new investment and trade links, which Gulf states in particular have been quick to offer.
    — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 1 July 2025
  • April 2025 The Hierophant: April invites you to seek deeper meaning and wisdom from your life, Pisces.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
Definition of seek
Verb
  • While dozing off in a chair with a book or a cup doesn’t seem particularly radical, a number of cognitive scientists got serious about re-creating Edison’s approach to insights and testing it in their experiments.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2025
  • For their study, the researchers tested two groups of rats with intermediate injuries to the spinal cord that resulted in almost no function of their hind limbs.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 6 July 2025
Definition of test
Verb
  • The ordeal has strained their relationship, Nations said.
    — Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025
  • The threat could further strain South Africa’s economy.
    — , CNBC, 9 July 2025
Definition of strain
Verb
  • There’s something delicious about sipping lemonade after a dip in the pool, looking down from the balcony at the day-trippers all hot and bothered below.
    — Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2025
  • That really bothers me more than anything else; that bothers me more than even being excluded.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2025
Definition of bother

Phrases Containing try

Browse Nearby Words

truthfulness
try
trying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Try.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/try. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on try

Nglish: Translation of try for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about try

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