trying
English meaning: Trying
Definition
Present participle of 'try': showing that someone is attempting something now.
Example
“She is trying to learn three languages at once, which keeps her wonderfully busy every day.”
Another example: “It has been a trying week, with one problem after another.”
Usage — When, Where & How
The present participle and gerund of 'try', used in continuous tenses ('she is trying') and as an adjective meaning difficult or stressful ('a trying day'); everyday register.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'trier', with the '-ing' ending added directly to 'try'.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- trying to
- trying hard
- keep trying
- trying times
- worth trying
- trying out
Word Forms
try (v); trying; tried; tries
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B