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
Around the same time, McGuire and her husband were also trying for their third child.
—
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Defendants who are mentally incompetent cannot be tried for crimes — rather, the criminal prosecutions are paused while defendants go through treatment aimed at restoring them to competency.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
There are biological age clocks that anyone can order online and try for themselves at home.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
Displays at the site describe how George Washington owned human beings, profited off their unpaid labor and, when one of them made a break for freedom, tried for years to recapture them.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for try for
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Defendants who are mentally incompetent cannot be tried for crimes — rather, the criminal prosecutions are paused while defendants go through treatment aimed at restoring them to competency.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
There are biological age clocks that anyone can order online and try for themselves at home.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
Displays at the site describe how George Washington owned human beings, profited off their unpaid labor and, when one of them made a break for freedom, tried for years to recapture them.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for try for
Cite this Entry
“Try for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/try%20for. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share