try
verb (used with object)
to attempt to do or accomplish.
was trying
-
past progressiveof try.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“I was trying to figure out if he was serious or not,” said quarterback Aidan Chiles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
It turns out, he was trying to repossess it because they hadn’t been able to make the lease payments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
I was trying to carry my rental skis, poles and heavy ski boots all at once, from the rental building to the nearby slope.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
Curo, which says it does not make any money from the contributions, said it was "trying to work with residents to prepare them for these bills".
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
Cautiously, as if she was trying not to be seen by anyone else, she raised one eyebrow and mouthed something—“Walk”? What did that mean?
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
