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
Stewart is trying to turn that around as consumer demand slows. — Michael Wayland, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026 Getty Images College football’s 2026 season begins today in Dublin with one of the sport’s most recognizable coaches trying to put a difficult first year behind him. — Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Noun
Cheslin Kolbe had converted another scrum penalty into a 16-12 lead but, from the restart, New Zealand lock Fabian Holland charged down scrumhalf Grant Williams for a converted try and 19-16. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 Five days earlier, in the preseason opener at Highmark Stadium, a 45-yard try veered too far right. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 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
  • In response to follow-up questions from The Bee, DHS sent a second statement Thursday afternoon that stated officers were attempting to locate one specific man who had two prior removals and listed the commercial building as his address.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • If for some reason a franchise deliberately attempted to minimize the impact of an incredible group of skill players, the result would look a lot like the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles.
    — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • The seasonal calendar is stretching earlier, chains are competing to own the first sip of autumn, and customers are voting with their orders.
    — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
  • And Experian IdentityWorks is a solid, affordable pick if you're already stretched thin by loan payments, with a free tier and paid plans still under $25 a month for three-bureau coverage.
    — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of stretch
Verb
  • Perhaps that’s why the pair has striven to create fresh archetypes.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But a home that cannot absorb something deeply meaningful is striving for taste at the expense of inauthenticity.
    — Steven Weill, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of strive
Verb
  • Adebo could still push Banks, while Phillips has secured the slot job.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • That more than doubled its stock, pushing its market cap above $9 billion, adding to the bottom line of Thrive and Kushner, who is vice chairman and has personal holdings.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of push
Verb
  • Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority CEO Doug Kreulen said Parton’s life exemplified the values the airport seeks to nurture.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Twenty-five years on and seeking revenge, Robbie infiltrates his gang from the bottom up in order to kill the man responsible, only to discover that the British underboss is grooming him to settle a debt no one was ever meant to survive.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of seek
Verb
  • What started as a hangover fix in Las Vegas is now a national industry testing the edges of medicine, cosmetics and longevity science — and the next wave, built around a molecule called NAD+, is already reshaping the menu.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Before Indiana, other states tested price caps on a smaller scale — starting with their own state employee health plans.
    — Alex Olgin, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of test
Verb
  • Last week, City & State reported payments were late again this year in 3-K and Pre-K, and The New York Times later reported the same setbacks were also straining the new 2-K pilot program, renewing scrutiny of the delays.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In June, after Bitcoin’s downturn strained the model, Strategy created a new financial backstop.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of strain
Verb
  • Say what’s bothering you before resentment takes over the conversation.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Rafter, bothered by a right shoulder injury, retires after Cedric Pioline breaks his serve in the opening game of the fifth set.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of bother

Phrases Containing try

Browse Nearby Words

truthfulness
try
trying
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Cite this Entry

“Try.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/try. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on try

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about try

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