to attempt to do or accomplish

Try it before you say it's simple.

to test the effect or result of (often fol. by out )

to try a new method; to try a recipe out.

to endeavor to evaluate by experiment or experience

to try a new field; to try a new book.

to test the quality, value, fitness, accuracy, etc., of

Will you try a spoonful of this and tell me what you think of it?

Law . to examine and determine judicially, as a cause; determine judicially the guilt or innocence of (a person).

to put to a severe test; subject to strain, as of endurance, patience, affliction, or trouble; tax

to try one's patience.

to attempt to open (a door, window, etc.) in order to find out whether it is locked

Try all the doors before leaving.

to melt down (fat, blubber, etc.) to obtain the oil; render (usually fol. by out ).

Archaic .

to determine the truth or right of (a quarrel or question) by test or battle (sometimes fol. by out ).

to find to be right by test or experience.

to make an attempt or effort; strive

Try to complete the examination.

Nautical . to lie to in heavy weather under just sufficient sail to head into the wind.

an attempt or effort

to have a try at something.

Rugby . a score of three points earned by advancing the ball to or beyond the opponents' goal line. ?

try on, to put on an article of clothing in order to judge its appearance and fit

You can't really tell how it will look until you try it on.

try out, to use experimentally; test

to try out a new car.

try out for, to compete for (a position, membership, etc.)

Over a hundred boys came to try out for the football team.

give it the old college try

Informal . to make a sincere effort

I gave it the old college try and finally found an apartment.

try it, that, etc., on

Chiefly British Informal .

to put on airs

She's been trying it on ever since the inheritance came through.

to be forward or presumptuous, esp. with a member of the opposite sex

She avoided him after he'd tried it on with her.

noun

abstention

verb

abstain , delight , please

noun

all one’s got , best shot * , bid , crack * , dab , effort , endeavor , essay , fling * , go * , jab * , pop * , shot * , slap * , stab * , striving , struggle , trial , undertaking , whack * , whirl *notes:an endeavor is a purposeful or industrious undertaking that requires effort; try is an attempt or effort , crack , go , offer , stab , attempt , experiment. trial , foray

verb

aim , aspire , attack , bear down , chip away at , compete , contend , contest , do one’s best , drive for , endeavor , essay , exert oneself , go after , go all out , go for , have a crack , have a go , have a shot , have a stab , have a whack , knock oneself out , labor , lift a finger , make a bid , make an attempt , make an effort , make a pass at , propose , put oneself out , risk , seek , shoot for , speculate , strive , struggle , tackle , undertake , venture , vie for , work , wranglenotes:an endeavor is a purposeful or industrious undertaking that requires effort; try is an attempt or effort , appraise , assay , check , check out , evaluate , examine , inspect , investigate , judge , prove , put to the proof , put to the test , sample , scrutinize , taste , try out , weighnotes:an endeavor is a purposeful or industrious undertaking that requires effort; try is an attempt or effort , agonize , annoy , crucify , distress , excruciate , harass , inconvenience , irk , irritate , martyr , pain , plague , rack , strain , stress , tax , tire , torment , torture , trouble , upset , vex , weary , wringnotes:an endeavor is a purposeful or industrious undertaking that requires effort; try is an attempt or effort , adjudge , adjudicate , arbitrate , decide , give a hearing , hear , referee , sit in judgmentnotes:an endeavor is a purposeful or industrious undertaking that requires effort; try is an attempt or effort , afflict , attempt , audition , bother , crack , effort , experiment , fling , opportunity , partake , purify , refine , render , screen , stab , subject , test , trial , turn , vie , whack , whirl

phrasal verb

assay , check , essay , examine , prove , try