tried

Everyday

1. Past of «try»: made an effort to do something (I tried to lift the box). tree →
2. Tested or tasted something to see what it is like (I tried sushi). tree →
3. Put on clothes to see if they fit (She tried on the shoes). tree →
4. Judged a person in a law court (He was tried for theft). tree →
5. Tried and tested / tried and true: proven to work well. tree →

In the lessons

At school effort matters: «I tried my best» and «Have you tried another way?» show a growth mindset. In maths, «I tried 5 and it was too small, so I tried 6» is trial and improvement. In science you try ideas and test them. In stories, characters try and fail before they succeed. Phrases: tried to, tried on, tried out, tried my best, tried and tested.

Examples

• I tried to lift the box, but it was too heavy. tree →
• Have you tried the new ice cream flavour? tree →
• She tried on three dresses before choosing. tree →
• We tried 4 × 6, but the answer was too small, so we tried 4 × 7. tree →
• He tried his best, and that's what matters. tree →
• They tried out for the football team. tree →
• This is a tried and tested recipe. tree →
• Michael had tried on his spectacles. tree →

Note

Spelling: try → tried, tries (y changes to i), but trying keeps the y. «Tried to do» = made an effort; «tried doing» = did it as a test to see if it helps.

In Jewish tradition

In the Psalms, Israel "tried God" in the desert by asking for food, and God's word is said to be "tried to the uttermost", proven like refined metal.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the testing at Massah as a lack of trust, asking "Is the LORD among us or not?", which later teachers warn against.

Examples

• Ye shall not try the LORD your God, as ye tried Him in Massah. (Torah DEU.6.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the name of the place was called Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tried the LORD, saying: 'Is the LORD among us, or not?' (Torah EXO.17.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tried God in the desert. (Writings PSA.106.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thy word is tried to the uttermost, and Thy servant loveth it. (Writings PSA.119.140, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they tried God in their heart by asking food for their craving. (Writings PSA.78.18, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling: try → tried, tries (y changes to i), but trying keeps the y. «Tried to do» = made an effort; «tried doing» = did it as a test to see if it helps.