Added 2 October 2026
try
/tɹaɪ/ symbol
In Latin: cōnor, aggredior Wiktionary
symbol Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about try at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
verb
-
To attempt; to endeavour. Followed by infinitive.
I tried to rollerblade, but I couldn’t.
-
To divide; to separate. To separate (precious metal etc.) from the ore by melting; to purify, refine. To winnow; to sift; to pick out; frequently followed by out.
to try out the wild corn from the good
- To separate (precious metal etc.) from the ore by melting; to purify, refine.
noun
adjective
Origin
From Middle English trien (“to separate out, sift, choose, select, evaluate, try a legal case”), from Anglo-Norman trier, triher, triere (“to divide, separate, choose, select, prove, determine, try a case”), Old French trier (“to choose, pick out or separate from others, sift, cull”), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Occitan triar (“to choose, sort, scrutinise, peel”), Catalan triar (“to pick, choose, decide”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)