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Synonyms

tried

American  
[trahyd] / traɪd /

verb

  1. simple past tense and past participle of try.

adjective

  1. tested and proved good, dependable, or trustworthy.

    a man of tried talents and integrity.

  2. subjected to hardship, worry, trouble, or the like.

tried British  
/ traɪd /

verb

  1. the past tense and past participle of try

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tried

First recorded in 1350–1400

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.

Joseph Perkovich, arguing for Pitchford, tried to do two things at once.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026

After being interviewed by the police about the allegations, Becerra tried to persuade a school board employee who went on the Las Vegas trip with him to say he had lost his phone.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

"Every time we tried to press them high and aggressive, those were the moments we got ripped apart."

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Shareholder activists have tried unsuccessfully to loosen Bennett’s control for a decade.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

She wouldn’t drink enough either, no matter how much I tried to encourage her.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.