try
verb (used with object)
to attempt to do or accomplish.
had tried
-
past perfectof try.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Afghanistan citizen Haji Zada was never charged with a crime, but prosecutors had tried and convicted her son and son-in-law for terror offenses.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Debbie Allen, who worked on the original series, had tried for years to revive the groundbreaking sitcom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
Hakim Yahya, 20, said that before he came to Ceuta, he had tried unsuccessfully to join a Spanish soccer club.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
The classic lineup featuring Meadowlark Lemon and Hubert “Geese” Ausbie had tried and failed to beat their perennial foils: the Washington Generals, playing that night as the New Jersey Reds.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026
“Oh, I did,” I agreed, remembering how Elliot had tried over and over again to help me remember the important information about the Gettysburg Address with limited success.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
