Try vs. Attempt — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 25, 2023
"Try" means to make an effort or test something, while "Attempt" signifies a direct effort to achieve something, often against challenges.
Difference Between Try and Attempt
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Key Differences
"Try" is a verb commonly used to convey the act of testing something or making an effort to see if something works. "Attempt," on the other hand, is often used to indicate a more deliberate effort to accomplish a specific task or overcome a particular challenge. While both words have overlap in meaning, the context in which they are used often delineates their nuances.
In many instances, to "try" something suggests giving it a chance or experimenting without necessarily a deep commitment to success. For instance, someone might try a new food to see if they like it. "Attempt" usually carries a stronger sense of purpose. If someone says they will attempt to climb a mountain, it means they are committed to overcoming the challenges associated with that task.
When one uses the word "try," it can sometimes convey a lack of confidence in the outcome. For example, saying "I'll try to come to the party" might suggest uncertainty. In contrast, "attempt" implies taking actionable steps toward a goal, like "I will attempt to break the record," suggesting a focused endeavor.
Both "try" and "attempt" are integral to the language, allowing speakers to convey varying degrees of effort and commitment. While "try" might lean more towards a general or casual effort, "attempt" is geared towards a more deliberate and often challenging endeavor.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Make an effort or test something.
Direct effort to achieve something.
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Connotation
Can suggest casual effort or experimentation.
Suggests more purpose and determination.
Commitment Level
Might imply less certainty about outcome.
Implies a stronger commitment to a task.
Usage in Sentence
I'll try to come.
I'll attempt to break the record.
Form
Often used as a verb, but can be a noun.
Commonly a noun but can also be a verb.
Compare with Definitions
Try
To test the effect or result of something.
Try turning the device off and on again.
Attempt
A venture where success is not guaranteed.
It was a brave attempt to save the drowning child.
Try
Make an attempt or effort to do something
I started to try and untangle the mystery
I decided to try writing fiction
He tried to regain his breath
Three times he tried the manoeuvre and three times he failed
Attempt
To try to subdue or take by force.
The cat made a sudden attempt to catch the mouse.
Try
Subject (someone) to trial
He was arrested and tried for the murder
Attempt
An attempt to commit a crime occurs if a criminal has an intent to commit a crime and takes a substantial step toward completing the crime, but for reasons not intended by the criminal, the final resulting crime does not occur. Attempt to commit a particular crime is a crime, usually considered to be of the same or lesser gravity as the particular crime attempted.
Try
Smooth (roughly planed wood) with a plane to give an accurately flat surface.
Attempt
To try to perform, make, or achieve
Attempted to read the novel in one sitting.
Attempted a difficult dive.
Try
Extract (oil or fat) by heating
Some of the fat may be tried out and used
Attempt
(Archaic) To tempt.
Try
An effort to accomplish something; an attempt
He got his membership card on his third try
Attempt
(Archaic) To try to seize or get control of by attacking.
Try
An act of touching the ball down behind the opposing goal line, scoring points and entitling the scoring side to a kick at goal.
Attempt
An effort or a try.
Try
To make an effort to do or accomplish (something); attempt
Tried to ski.
Attempt
An attack; an assault
An attempt on someone's life.
Try
To taste, sample, or otherwise test in order to determine strength, effect, worth, or desirability
Try this casserole.
Attempt
To try.
I attempted to sing, but my throat was too hoarse.
To attempt an escape from prison
A group of 80 budding mountaineers attempted Kilimanjaro, but 30 of them didn't make it to the top.
Try
To make an effort to open (a closed door or window).
Attempt
(obsolete) To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt.
Try
To conduct the trial of (a legal claim)
To try a negligence case.
Attempt
(archaic) To try to win, subdue, or overcome.
One who attempts the virtue of a woman
Try
To put (an accused person) on trial.
Attempt
(archaic) To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force.
To attempt the enemy's camp
Try
To subject to great strain or hardship; tax
The last steep ascent tried my every muscle.
Attempt
The action of trying at something.
We made an attempt to cross the stream, but didn't manage.
This poem is much better than the feeble attempt of mine.
It was worth the attempt.
No matter how many failed attempts we made, we maintained a positive attitude and tried again and again until we succeeded.
Try
To melt (lard, for example) to separate out impurities; render.
Attempt
An assault or attack, especially an assassination attempt.
Try
To make an effort; strive
I know it's not easy, but keep trying!.
Attempt
To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do or perform (some action); to assay; as, to attempt to sing; to attempt a bold flight.
Something attempted, something done,Has earned a night's repose.
Try
An attempt; an effort.
Attempt
To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt.
It made the laughter of an afternoonThat Vivien should attempt the blameless king.
Try
(Sports) In rugby, an act of advancing the ball past the opponent's goal line and grounding it there for a score of three points.
Attempt
To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts the virtue of a woman.
Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further:Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute.
Try
To attempt; to endeavour. Followed by infinitive.
I tried to rollerblade, but I couldn’t.
I'll come to dinner soon. I'm trying to beat this level first.
Attempt
To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp.
Without attempting his adversary's life.
Try
(obsolete) To divide; to separate.
Attempt
To make an attempt; - with upon.
Try
To separate (precious metal etc.) from the ore by melting; to purify, refine.
Attempt
A essay, trial, or endeavor; an undertaking; an attack, or an effort to gain a point; esp. an unsuccessful, as contrasted with a successful, effort.
By his blindness maimed for high attempts.
Try
(one sort from another) To winnow; to sift; to pick out; frequently followed by out.
To try out the wild corn from the good
Attempt
Earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something;
Made an effort to cover all the reading material
Wished him luck in his endeavor
She gave it a good try
Try
(nautical) To extract oil from blubber or fat; to melt down blubber to obtain oil
Attempt
The act of attacking;
Attacks on women increased last year
They made an attempt on his life
Try
To extract wax from a honeycomb
Attempt
Make an effort or attempt;
He tried to shake off his fears
The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps
The police attempted to stop the thief
He sought to improve himself
She always seeks to do good in the world
Try
To test, to work out.
Attempt
Enter upon an activity or enterprise
Try
To make an experiment. Usually followed by a present participle.
I tried mixing more white paint to get a lighter shade.
Attempt
To make an effort to achieve or complete something.
He made an attempt to reconcile with his friend.
Try
To put to test.
I shall try my skills on this.
Attempt
The act of trying to do something.
Her attempt at baking was commendable.
Try
(specifically) To test someone's patience.
You are trying my patience.
Don't try me.
Attempt
To undertake a challenge or responsibility.
She will attempt the leadership role in the project.
Try
To receive an imminent attack; to take.
Try
To taste, sample, etc.
Oh, you need to try the soup of the day!
Try
To prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality; to examine; to prove; to test.
To try weights or measures by a standard;
To try a person's opinions
Try
(with indirect interrogative clause) To attempt to determine (by experiment or effort).
I'll try whether I can make it across town on foot.
Try
(legal) To put on trial.
He was tried and executed.
Try
To experiment, to strive.
Try
To have or gain knowledge of by experience.
Try
To work on something with one's best effort and focus.
Dad, for fuck's sake, I'm trying my best!
You are trying too hard.
Try
(obsolete) To do; to fare.
How do you try! (i.e., how do you do?)
Try
To settle; to decide; to determine; specifically, to decide by an appeal to arms.
To try rival claims by a duel;
To try conclusions
Try
To attempt to conceive a child.
Try
(nautical) To lie to in heavy weather under just sufficient sail to head into the wind.
Try
To strain; to subject to excessive tests.
The light tries his eyes.
Repeated failures try one's patience.
Try
To want
I am really not trying to hear you talk about my mama like that.
Try
An attempt.
I gave unicycling a try but I couldn’t do it.
Try
An act of tasting or sampling.
I gave sushi a try but I didn’t like it.
Try
(rugby) A score in rugby league and rugby union, analogous to a touchdown in American football.
Today I scored my first try.
Try
A screen, or sieve, for grain.
Try
(American football) A field goal or extra point
Try
(chess) A move that almost solves a chess problem, except that Black has a unique defense.
Try
(obsolete) Fine, excellent.
Try
To divide or separate, as one sort from another; to winnow; to sift; to pick out; - frequently followed by out; as, to try out the wild corn from the good.
Try
To purify or refine, as metals; to melt out, and procure in a pure state, as oil, tallow, lard, etc.
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Try
To prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality; to examine; to prove; to test; as, to try weights or measures by a standard; to try a man's opinions.
Let the end try the man.
Try
To subject to severe trial; to put to the test; to cause suffering or trouble to.
Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased.
These are the times that try men's souls.
Try
To experiment with; to test by use; as, to try a remedy for disease; to try a horse.
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.
To ease her cares the force of sleep she tries.
Try
To strain; to subject to excessive tests; as, the light tries his eyes; repeated disappointments try one's patience.
Try
To examine or investigate judicially; to examine by witnesses or other judicial evidence and the principles of law; as, to try a cause, or a criminal.
Try
To settle; to decide; to determine; specifically, to decide by an appeal to arms; as, to try rival claims by a duel; to try conclusions.
Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried.
Try
To experience; to have or gain knowledge of by experience.
Or try the Libyan heat or Scythian cold.
Try
To essay; to attempt; to endeavor.
Let us try . . . to found a path.
He first deceased: she for a little triedTo live without him; liked it not, and died.
Alack, I am afraid they have a waked,And 't is not done. The attempt, and not the deed,Confounds us.
Try
To exert strength; to endeavor; to make an effort or an attempt; as, you must try hard if you wish to learn.
Try
To do; to fare; as, how do you try!
Try
A screen, or sieve, for grain.
Try
Act of trying; attempt; experiment; trial.
This breaking of his has been but a try for his friends.
Try
In Rugby and Northern Union football, a score (counting three points) made by grounding the ball on or behind the opponent's goal line; - so called because it entitles the side making it to a place kick for a goal (counting two points more if successful).
Try
Refined; select; excellent; choice.
Try
Earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something;
Made an effort to cover all the reading material
Wished him luck in his endeavor
She gave it a good try
Try
Make an effort or attempt;
He tried to shake off his fears
The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps
The police attempted to stop the thief
He sought to improve himself
She always seeks to do good in the world
Try
Put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to;
This approach has been tried with good results
Test this recipe
Try
Put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of;
The football star was tried for the murder of his wife
The judge tried both father and son in separate trials
Try
Take a sample of;
Try these new crackers
Sample the regional dishes
Try
Examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process;
The jury had heard all the evidence
The case will be tried in California
Try
Give pain or trouble to;
I've been sorely tried by these students
Try
Test the limits of;
You are trying my patience!
Try
Melt (fat, lard, etc.) in order to separate out impurities;
Try the yak butter
Render fat in a casserole
Try
Put on a garment in order to see whether it fits and looks nice;
Try on this sweater to see how it looks
Try
To make an effort to do something.
I will try to finish the project on time.
Try
To sample or experience something to determine one's reaction to it.
She wants to try the new flavor of ice cream.
Try
To examine or investigate legally.
The court will try the case next month.
Try
To strain or exert.
The heavy lifting will try your strength.
Common Curiosities
What's a synonym for "try"?
A synonym for "try" could be "endeavor."
Can "try" and "attempt" be used interchangeably?
Often yes, but "attempt" usually conveys a stronger sense of purpose.
Which word suggests a higher level of commitment?
"Attempt" generally suggests a higher level of commitment than "try."
Is "attempt" always about challenging endeavors?
Not always, but it often implies taking actionable steps toward a specific goal.
Which word, "try" or "attempt," implies more uncertainty?
"Try" can sometimes imply more uncertainty.
How is "try" used in a legal context?
In a legal context, "try" means to examine a case in court.
How does context influence the choice between "try" and "attempt"?
"Attempt" is more suited for deliberate, purposeful actions, while "try" can be more general.
Can "try" be used as a noun?
Yes, e.g., "Give it a try."
What's a synonym for "attempt"?
A synonym for "attempt" could be "effort."
Can "attempt" mean a physical effort?
Yes, e.g., "He made an attempt to grab the ball."
Is it correct to say "try and" instead of "try to"?
While "try to" is standard, "try and" is colloquially accepted.
Is "trying" the same as "attempting"?
They're similar, but "attempting" often suggests more deliberate action.
Do both words originate from the same language?
No, "try" has roots in Old French "trier," and "attempt" comes from Latin "attemptare."
Can "attempt" also be a verb?
Yes, e.g., "She will attempt the task."
Which word would fit: "I'll ___ to reach you later."?
Both "I'll try to reach you later" and "I'll attempt to reach you later" work, but "try" is more common.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
