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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.

In “Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World,” he speaks for the ordinary people of the past in their concrete reality.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

"Tried not to get too high because of the wind. It was a great shot."

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

Ann-Marie Hoang wears Nike cap and glasses, Adidas jacket and biker shorts, Prada tie and loafers, Michael Hoban x Tried and True overalls, VidaKush socks and jewelry.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2024

“It’s really simple as that. Tried to stay aggressive, teammates getting me open with screens and getting matchups that we like. It all just came together in the fourth quarter for myself.”

From Washington Times • Dec. 9, 2023

Tried to talk about it, somethin’ starts choking me.

From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner

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.