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

Relevance

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
Rhodes tried a spinning Alabama Slam, but Punk countered with an Anaconda Vice. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 The Emmys themselves have at times tried to regulate the divide. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
So when asked by Chaminade coach David Machuca to give life at the line of scrimmage a try, the answer came without hesitation. — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 27 July 2026 Give this easy strawberry dessert recipe a try, you won’t be disappointed. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 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
  • Trump was present at the event, and the Justice Department has charged the gunman with attempting to assassinate the president.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Nadezhdin attempted to mount a long-shot run against Putin for the presidency in 2024 but was disqualified on technical grounds by the Election Commission.
    — Reuters, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • The military veteran is a longshot candidate for the district, which now stretches east from Kansas City to central Missouri.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • On Wednesday, authorities said three firefighters had died on the Greek island on Crete, as the wildfire emergency stretched from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of stretch
Verb
  • Arnetra and her sister, Akiva, described Darius as a joker, always striving to bring joy to those around him.
    — Maveah Griffith, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
  • At the time, the organization, which typically strives to have four days worth of blood on hand, only had two, according to Kristin Connor, Vitalant’s northern California communications manager.
    — Velvet Wu July 29, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of strive
Verb
  • The dramatic encounter saw both superstars push each other to their limits, culminating in a sense of finality for their long-standing rivalry.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But a cheap currency also weakens Japan's purchasing power overall, pushing up costs for the imports of oil and other essential goods.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of push
Verb
  • The Willow Springs initiative seeks to establish Goodwood as a reliable, annual car event in Southern California, fostering a similar blend of old-world charm and modern passion.
    — Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The development team also sought to address concerns about traffic at the intersection of Linder Road and South Trout Road.
    — Noah Daly August 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of seek
Verb
  • Investigators said Summers was using his phone extensively before the crash, driving 73-75 mph, and tested positive for cocaine and opiates.
    — Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026
  • The competition series featured masters of shamanism, tarot, face and foot reading, saju and other divination disciplines competing in challenges that tested their abilities, using tools including fans, bells, dowsing rods and modern-day laptops.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of test
Verb
  • In Hungary too, where the heat crisis is severely straining the country’s energy supply, the receding water levels of the Danube River exposed several bombs, likely from World War II, a local official said last week.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • By Malloy’s second year, annual pension expenses were almost 70% greater than pre-recession levels, further straining a budget that already had lost close to $2 billion in yearly revenue due to a sagging economy.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of strain
Verb
  • My summer dresses will sadly be retired in the coming weeks, but a denim midi skirt is the ideal swap on days when I can’t be bothered to wear jeans.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 4 Aug. 2026
  • While acknowledging a desire for the honor, Overeem states he's not overly bothered, having faced similar situations throughout his long career.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 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 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on try

Nglish: Translation of try for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about try

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All