try

v.

1. To endeavor

   attempt, essay, undertake, exert (oneself), contend, strive, make an effort, risk, have a try, contest, wrangle, labor, work, aspire, propose, seek, try to reach, do what one can, tackle, venture, struggle for, compete for, speculate, make every effort, put oneself out, vie for, aspire to, attack*, make a bid for*, beat one's brains*, bear down*, shoot at*, shoot for*, drive for*, chip away at*, do one's best*, bend over backward*, make a pass at*, go after*, go out of the way*, give a workout*, do all in one's power*, go through fire and water*, buckle down*, lift a finger*, break an arm*, break a blood vessel*, lay oneself out*, lay to*, do oneself justice*, have a go at*, make a go of it*, go all out*, leave no stone unturned*, move heaven and earth*, hump it*, file a strong bid*, go all lengths*, go to market*, knock oneself out*, bunch the hits*, break one's neck*, bust a gut*, take a crack at*, give it a whirl*, fight the good fight*.

2. To test

   assay, investigate, put to the proof; see analyze 1, examine 1, 2.

3. To conduct a trial

   hear, judge, examine, adjudicate, decide, hear a case, sit in judgment, give a fair hearing.

try is commonly the simple, direct word for putting forth effort to do something try to come, but specifically it connotes experimentation in testing or proving something I'll try your recipe; attempt, somewhat more formal, suggests a setting out to accomplish something but often connotes failure he had attempted to take his life; endeavor suggests exertion and determined effort in the face of difficulties we shall endeavor to recover your loss; essay connotes a tentative experimenting to test the feasibility of something difficult she will not essay the high jump; strive suggests great, earnest exertion to accomplish something strive to win; struggle suggests a violent striving to overcome obstacles or to free oneself from an impediment I struggled to reach the top