Try
What it means
To make a deliberate effort to do, achieve, or discover something.
Reach for it when recognizing sincere action where the outcome is not yet assured
We will try the quieter route and turn back if the snow deepens.
Words to choose between 8
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday |
|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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playful
give it a go
Fits when willingness to experiment suits friendly conversation
Careful The idiom is informal and can understate risk or preparation.
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playful
have a crack at
Fits when confident informal British speech fits
Careful The phrase is regional and too casual for a serious undertaking.
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warm
make an effort
Fits when the sincerity of exertion needs to be explicit
Careful The phrase can sound patronizing when the effort was substantial.
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warm
Fits when persistent effort toward an important ideal is central
Careful Strive implies duration and intensity beyond simply trying once.
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professional
attempt
Fits when a bounded effort or formal record of it matters
Careful Attempt is cooler and may imply an unsuccessful result.
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professional
test
Fits when the purpose is to learn whether something works
Careful Testing evaluates; trying may aim directly at completion.
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formal
Fits when sustained serious effort deserves elevated language
Careful Endeavor is grand for a small experiment or casual first step.
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formal
undertake
Fits when accepting responsibility to perform the action is key
Careful Undertake suggests commitment stronger than an uncertain try.
Opposites 3
- quit
- avoid
- refuse
Common phrases 3
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try again
After reviewing the measurements, the students chose to try again.
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try to help
Ask first when you try to help someone using a mobility aid.
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worth a try
The reversible repair is worth a try before replacing the frame.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated