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
Monday’s federal complaint names Caroline Miller, the young mother who accused Patel of trying to grab her son, along with Cobb County District Attorney Sonya Allen; the city of Acworth; the detective who charged him; and the DA’s investigator who presented the case to a Cobb grand jury. —Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 9 Feb. 2026 Cruise operators also generally try to cross the roughest waters while guests are sleeping. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
The dominance started on the first possession, when UConn controlled three offensive rebounds, though its effort was fruitless after four tries. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026 His goal was the first the team had scored with a man advantage in 27 tries. —Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 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 an indictment Thursday, federal prosecutors said Kevin Taylor attempted to steer an $11 million contract toward the company, SaferWatch, while serving as the commanding officer of the department's School Safety Division.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Lewis, who played for the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, was charged in 2004 for attempting to set up a drug deal.
    — Sarah Davis, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • Most people at the meeting, held over Microsoft Teams, expressed excitement at the potential for conservation in an area stretching from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance, plus 200 yards inland.
    — Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Set the scene Arriving at Four Seasons Costa Palmas feels like driving toward a kasbah in Morocco—miles of stark desert stretch out on either side before the landscape suddenly opens to an oasis on the edge of the Sea of Cortez.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of stretch
Verb
  • Because Lindsey Vonn’s comeback and crash accomplished the one goal that all sports strive to achieve.
    — Frederick Dreier, Outside, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Her two oldest boys will be big parts of the men’s team, striving for their first gold since 1980.
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of strive
Verb
  • The decisions centered around the dates for quarterfinal and semifinal games, as well as the move to push the championship game back to even further in January has drawn some backlash.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Its forecast for profit in the current quarter fell short of analysts' expectations as an industrywide shortage of memory pushes some handset makers to cut back on orders.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of push
Verb
  • Bass and her campaign team have sought to highlight a list of accomplishments, including a steady decrease in homicides, a drop in street homelessness and her efforts to accelerate the construction of affordable housing.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The president has spent the past several months seeking to spotlight his efforts to lower drug prices for Americans.
    — DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of seek
Verb
  • Take the quiz here … CROWN ON EDGE – Prince William's 'zero tolerance' tested as Sarah Ferguson emails reveal crude comment to Epstein.
    — , FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Some European officials described the incidents as Moscow testing NATO's response.
    — DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of test
Verb
  • Essential goods strain meager household budgets, with consumers paying around 363 Pakistani rupees for a dozen eggs or 2,186 Pakistan rupees for a kilogram of wheat flour, according to economic data firm CEIC Data, citing 2025 figures from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • This affordable probiotic has one of the most common types of beneficial bacteria strains to help balance the gut.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of strain
Verb
  • Andrew Musgrave crossed the finish line in cross-country skiing today in a tank top, and the cold didn’t seem to bother him one bit.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
  • My damp clothes didn’t bother either one of us.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
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 15 Feb. 2026.

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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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