{
    "term": "try",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "try",
            "heSheIt": "tries"
        },
        "pastSimple": "tried",
        "pastParticiple": "tried",
        "ingForm": "trying"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to make an attempt or effort to do or get something",
            "sensetop": "try to do somethingtry your best/hardest (to do something)try doing something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I don't know if I can come but I'll try."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What are you trying to do?",
                    "contextForm": "try to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I **tried hard** not to laugh."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You haven’t even tried to find it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don’t try to do it too quickly."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I **kept trying** to remember where I had seen him before."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I was **just trying** to help!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was **desperately trying** to stay afloat."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She tried her best to solve the problem.",
                    "contextForm": "try your best/hardest (to do something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Just try your hardest."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I tried calling him but there was no answer.",
                    "contextForm": "try doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Just try getting a plumber at the weekend!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **tried and tried** but he could not climb out."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Please **try again** later."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Can't you do it? Let me try."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I clumsily tried to make amends."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I wondered if he was purposely trying to avoid me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She tried valiantly to smile through her tears."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I've given up trying to persuade her."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a treason charge for allegedly trying to overthrow the government by force"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I hope you're not going to try and deny it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Can you guys at least try and be nice to her?"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["desperately", "frantically", "furiously"],
                "verb + try": ["decide to", "dare (somebody) to", "bother to"],
                "phrases": [
                    "be just trying to do something",
                    "be only trying to do something",
                    "give up trying"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to use, do or test something in order to see if it is good, suitable, etc.",
            "sensetop": "try somethingtry something on somebody/somethingtry doing something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Have you tried this new coffee? It's very good.",
                    "contextForm": "try something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Would you like to try some raw fish?’ ‘Why not? **I'll try anything once**!’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'd like to **try something new**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm having a caffeine-free week. You should try it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Have you ever tried windsurfing?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Try** these shoes **for size**—they should fit you."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She tried the door, but it was locked."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The treatment has not yet been tried on patients.",
                    "contextForm": "try something on somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "John isn't here. Try phoning his mobile.",
                    "contextForm": "try doing something"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["desperately", "frantically", "furiously"],
                "verb + try": ["decide to", "dare (somebody) to", "bother to"],
                "phrases": [
                    "be just trying to do something",
                    "be only trying to do something",
                    "give up trying"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to examine evidence in court and decide whether somebody is innocent or guilty",
            "sensetop": "try somebody (for something)try something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He was tried for murder.",
                    "contextForm": "try somebody (for something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The case was tried before a jury.",
                    "contextForm": "try something"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Law and justice"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to try as hard as you can (to do something)",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She did her damnedest to get it done on time."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to do as much as you can to try to achieve something",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Success"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that although somebody has not succeeded in something, they have tried very hard",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They haven't won a game yet, but it isn't for want of trying."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They lost the game, but not for lack of trying."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Difficulty and failure"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that you should accept an unpleasant situation or event because you cannot change it",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "that you have used or relied on in the past successfully",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a tried and tested method for solving the problem"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to try as hard as you can (to do something)",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She tried her damnedest to get it done on time."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to do something such as an activity or a sport for the first time",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to behave badly towards somebody or try to get something from them, even though you know this will make them angry",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Children often try it on with new teachers."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to try to start a sexual relationship with somebody",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to do something that involves risk or luck, hoping to succeed",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "My grandparents emigrated to Canada to try their luck there."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Success"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to make somebody feel impatient",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "His stubbornness would try the patience of a saint."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/traɪ/",
                "audio": "tr/try/try__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/traɪz/",
                "audio": "tr/try/tries__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/traɪd/",
                "audio": "tr/try/tried__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtraɪɪŋ/",
                "audio": "tr/try/trying__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/traɪ/",
                "audio": "tr/try/try__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/traɪz/",
                "audio": "tr/try/tries__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/traɪd/",
                "audio": "tr/try/tried__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtraɪɪŋ/",
                "audio": "tr/try/trying__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French trier ‘sift’, of unknown origin. Sense 1 of the noun dates from the early 17th cent."
}