tries: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral; used in all registers from informal to formal.
Quick answer
What does “tries” mean?
The third-person singular present form of the verb 'try', meaning to make an effort or attempt to do something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The third-person singular present form of the verb 'try', meaning to make an effort or attempt to do something.
Also the plural form of the noun 'try', meaning an attempt or effort to achieve something, often used in sports (e.g., rugby) to denote a scoring play.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a noun meaning 'attempt', both use it. In rugby, 'a try' (plural 'tries') is the standard term for scoring by grounding the ball in the opponent's in-goal area; this usage is rare in American English where rugby is less prominent.
Connotations
As a verb, no significant connotative difference. The noun in sports contexts is strongly associated with UK/Commonwealth cultures.
Frequency
Verb form is extremely high frequency in both. Noun form (meaning 'attempt') is common in both, but the rugby-specific noun is vastly more frequent in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “tries” in a Sentence
[S] tries to INF (She tries to help).[S] tries V-ing (He tries cycling to work).[S] tries NP (Try the soup).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tries” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She tries to queue patiently.
- He tries on the trousers before buying them.
American English
- She tries to call her mom every week.
- He tries out for the baseball team.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
She tries a new marketing strategy to boost sales.
Academic
The researcher tries to replicate the experiment under controlled conditions.
Everyday
He tries to fix the leaky tap before calling a plumber.
Technical
The system tries to establish a secure connection with the server.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tries”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tries”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tries”
- Incorrect: 'He try to open the window.' Correct: 'He tries to open the window.' Incorrect: 'She tries open the door.' Correct: 'She tries to open the door.' or 'She tries opening the door.' (different meaning).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily the third-person singular present tense of the verb 'to try', but it is also the standard plural form of the noun 'a try' (meaning an attempt or a rugby score).
There is no significant difference; both pronounce it /traɪz/. The potential variation lies in the vowel quality of the /aɪ/ diphthong, which can be slightly different in certain regional accents.
Yes, in the pattern 'tries + noun', where the meaning is 'tests' or 'samples'. Example: 'He tries the new software.' This is different from 'tries to + verb' which indicates an attempt to perform an action.
As a general noun for 'attempts', it's common in both. Its high frequency in British English is significantly boosted by the rugby term, a major sport in the UK, whereas American football uses 'touchdown', not 'try'.
The third-person singular present form of the verb 'try', meaning to make an effort or attempt to do something.
Tries is usually neutral; used in all registers from informal to formal. in register.
Tries: in British English it is pronounced /traɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /traɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.”
- “Tries his hand at something.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'tries' as the action word when someone 'TRIES' to reach a prize. The 'IES' ending is common for verbs with 'Y' (try -> tries).
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / A TEST ('He tries different paths'). EFFORT IS A PHYSICAL FORCE ('She tries with all her might').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the noun 'tries' MOST specific?