re·try
(ˌ)rē-ˈtrī 
retried; retrying
1
transitive + intransitive
: to try (something) again to see if it is successful, working, or satisfactory
He retried downloading the program.
Turn the device and the router off for at least ten seconds, then turn them back on and retry the connection.—
Ankit Banerjee
Ankit Banerjeea restaurant that might be worth retrying
After a certain number of failed attempts, the system will stop retrying.
2
transitive
law
: to try (someone or something) judicially for a second time
Prosecutors decided to retry the case.
retry a defendant
He was retried on the manslaughter charge.
plural retries
: a new attempt or try
The website loaded on the third retry.
Examples of retry in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Scolforo, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
While the misdemeanor child molestation count was vacated because of the issue involving the girl’s testimony, the appellate panel said there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction and that Lopez could be retried on that count.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Madison Beveridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Denver is 3-2 and could easily be 5-0 — its two losses came from walk-off field goals, and one of those kicks was a retry after a rare leverage penalty.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retry
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Verb
Late last year, the State College prosecutor declined to retry Vedam after a Centre County judge determined that relevant ballistics evidence had not been disclosed by prosecutors during Vedam’s two trials.
—Mark Scolforo, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
While the misdemeanor child molestation count was vacated because of the issue involving the girl’s testimony, the appellate panel said there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction and that Lopez could be retried on that count.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
But Iwamoto never gave up and has since been preparing for his retry.
—Madison Beveridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Denver is 3-2 and could easily be 5-0 — its two losses came from walk-off field goals, and one of those kicks was a retry after a rare leverage penalty.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retry
Cite this Entry
“Retry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retry. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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