try for

phrasal verb

tried for; trying for; tries for

: to make an attempt or effort to get (something)

He tried for second place but finished third instead.

Examples of try for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This doctrine was used during the Civil Rights era; if a white defendant was found not guilty of murdering a Black victim in state court in the South, for example, he could still be tried for a civil rights violation in federal court. —Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026

Those who take the tour get a discount on chocolate purchases, and the hot chocolate is a must-try for chocolate fiends. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026

Double jeopardy is a legal principle that prohibits defendants from being tried for the same crime twice. —Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026

The ruling represented a win for Republican lawmakers who championed the tax credit bill last session after trying for years to pass legislation to provide funds for families who choose not to send their children to public schools. —Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for try for

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore