try
verb (used with object)
to attempt to do or accomplish.
were 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.
“What we were trying to do would not jeopardize the safety of anyone — not even in Memphis, but much less the rest of the population of Tennessee.”
From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026
Olid felt her team were trying to do too much and had lost sight of some of their strengths, including their defensive organisation.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
But the AI trade has evolved since earlier in the year, when investors were trying to find fresh ways to bet on a furious cycle of spending on chips and power.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
Executives were trying to solve a puzzle: They could see some clients in Chicago’s affluent North Shore suburbs weren’t buying from the downtown Chicago store.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
“Such talents would bring me great pleasure and would be rewarded openly if I did not think it was deceitful. If I did not think you were trying to steal from me.”
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
