tried

IPA/traɪd/
KK[trˈaɪd]IPA/traɪd/

tried — verb

  • triedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • trieds3rd person singular
  • trieding-ing form
  • triededpast simple

1. the form of the verb "try" that shows an attempt happened in the past — for exam

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveA1
Definition

the form of the verb "try" that shows an attempt happened in the past — for example, "Abigail tried the new café yesterday" or "They have tried every possible solution."

Example

Élise tried to call her mother three times but nobody answered.

tried + to-infinitive

The student had tried every method before she finally solved the problem.

past perfect: had tried

Common collocations
  • tried hard
  • tried everything
  • tried my best
  • tried in vain
Synonyms
  • attempted

    more formal; used especially in writing about crimes or serious efforts

  • tested

    focuses on checking whether something works, rather than making an effort

Grammar Patterns

tried + noun phrase

tried + to-infinitive

tried + -ing form

Usage Note

Frequently used in past simple and present perfect tenses. The passive form ("was tried", "have been tried") is common in formal or technical writing.

Common Mistakes

I tryed to open the door.
I tried to open the door.
'try' takes -ied, not -yed, in the past form.

tried — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something you can trust, but they differ in emphasis. "Tried-and-tested" (BrE) and "tried-and-true" (NAmE) specifically refer to methods or tools that have been used repeatedly and always worked — the focus is on the history of use. "Proven" is shorter and slightly more formal; you can apply it to a theory, a product, or a person's ability without necessarily implying frequent use. "Reliable" is the broadest term — it simply means consistently good or dependable, even if it has never been "tested" in a formal sense. "Time-tested" is similar to "tried-and-tested" but emphasises that something has worked over a long period, often for many years or generations. For example: the librarian recommends a tried-and-tested cataloguing system; DNA evidence is a proven forensic tool; a reliable car starts every morning; time-tested traditions have been passed down through centuries.

tried-and-testedproven ↗reliable ↗time-tested ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

"Tried" comes from Middle English, from the verb "trien" or "trien" (to separate, examine, or test), which was borrowed from Old French "trier" (to pick out, sift). The adjective sense of "proven reliable through testing" dates back to the 16th century. The modern use in phrases like "tried and tested" reinforces the idea of something that has been examined and found to be good.