The difference between Play and Try

When used as nouns, play means activity for amusement only, especially among the young, whereas try means an attempt.

When used as verbs, play means to act in a manner such that one has fun, whereas try means to attempt.


Try is also adjective with the meaning: fine, excellent.

check bellow for the other definitions of Play and Try

  1. Play as a verb (intransitive):

    To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.

    Examples:

    "They played long and hard."

  2. Play as a verb (transitive, intransitive):

    To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game). To compete against, in a game. (in the scoring of games and sports) To be the opposing score to.

    Examples:

    "He plays on three teams.  nowrap Who's playing now?  nowrap play football;  nowrap play sports;  nowrap play games"

    "We're playing one of the top teams in the next round."

    "Look at the score now ... 23 plays 8!"

  3. Play as a verb (intransitive):

    To take part in amorous activity; to make love, fornicate; to have sex.

  4. Play as a verb (transitive):

    To act as the indicated role, especially in a performance.

    Examples:

    "He plays the King, and she's the Queen.  nowrap No part of the brain plays the role of permanent memory."

  5. Play as a verb (transitive, intransitive):

    To produce music or theatre. To produce music. To produce music using a musical instrument. To produce music (or a specified song or musical style) using (a specified musical instrument). To use a device to watch or listen to the indicated recording. To be performed; to be shown. To perform in or at; to give performances in or at. To act or perform (a play).

    Examples:

    "I've practiced the piano off and on, but I still can't play very well."

    "I'll play the piano and you sing.  nowrap Can you play an instrument?  nowrap We especially like to play jazz together.  nowrap Play a song for me.  nowrap Do you know how to play Für Elise?  nowrap My son thinks he can play music."

    "You can play the DVD now."

    "His latest film is playing in the local theatre tomorrow."

    "to play a comedy"

  6. Play as a verb:

    To behave in a particular way. Contrary to fact, to give an appearance of being. To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless. To act; to behave; to practice deception. To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute.

    Examples:

    "to play tricks"

  7. Play as a verb (transitive, intransitive):

    To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate.

    Examples:

    "The fountain plays."

    "He played the torch beam around the room."

  8. Play as a verb (intransitive):

    To move gaily; to disport.

  9. Play as a verb (transitive):

    To put in action or motion.

    Examples:

    "to play cannon upon a fortification;  nowrap to play a trump in a card game"

  10. Play as a verb (transitive):

    To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.

  11. Play as a verb (transitive, colloquial):

    To manipulate, deceive, or swindle someone.

    Examples:

    "You played me!"

  1. Play as a noun (uncountable, formerly, _, countable):

    Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.

    Examples:

    "Children learn through play."

  2. Play as a noun (uncountable):

    Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.

    Examples:

    "This kind of play helps the young lion cubs develop their hunting skills."

  3. Play as a noun (uncountable, ethology):

    "Repeated, incompletely functional behavior differing from more serious versions ..., and initiated voluntarily when ... in a low-stress setting."

  4. Play as a noun (uncountable):

    The conduct, or course, of a game.

    Examples:

    "Play was very slow in the first half."

    "After the rain break, play resumed at 3 o'clock."

  5. Play as a noun (uncountable):

    An individual's performance in a sport or game.

    Examples:

    "His play has improved a lot this season."

  6. Play as a noun (countable):

    A short sequence of action within a game.

    Examples:

    "That was a great play by the Mudchester Rovers forward."

  7. Play as a noun (countable, turn-based games):

    An action carried out when it is one's turn to play.

    Examples:

    "synonyms: move"

  8. Play as a noun (countable):

    A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.

    Examples:

    "This book contains all of Shakespeare's plays."

  9. Play as a noun (countable):

    A theatrical performance featuring actors.

    Examples:

    "We saw a two-act play in the theatre."

  10. Play as a noun (countable):

    A major move by a business or investor.

    Examples:

    "ABC Widgets makes a play in the bicycle market with its bid to take over Acme Sprockets."

  11. Play as a noun (countable):

    A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.

  12. Play as a noun (uncountable):

    The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely.

    Examples:

    "No wonder the fanbelt is slipping: there’s too much play in it."

    "Too much play in a steering wheel may be dangerous."

  13. Play as a noun (uncountable, informal):

    Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.

  14. Play as a noun (countable):

    A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.

  15. Play as a noun (archaic, now usually in compounds):

    Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.

    Examples:

    "m handplay, m swordplay"

  1. Try as a verb:

    To attempt; to endeavour. Followed by infinitive.

    Examples:

    "I tried to rollerblade, but I couldn’t."

    "I'll come to dinner soon. I'm trying to beat this level first."

  2. Try as a verb (obsolete):

    To divide; to separate. To separate (precious metal etc.) from the ore by melting; to purify, refine. To winnow; to sift; to pick out; frequently followed by out. To extract oil from blubber or fat; to melt down blubber to obtain oil To extract wax from a honeycomb

    Examples:

    "to try out the wild corn from the good"

    "rfquotek Sir T. Elyot"

  3. Try as a verb (specifically):

    To test, to work out. To make an experiment. Usually followed by a present participle. To put to test. To test someone's patience. To taste, sample, etc. To prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality; to examine; to prove; to test. To put on trial.

    Examples:

    "I tried mixing more white paint to get a lighter shade."

    "I shall try my skills on this."

    "You are trying my patience."

    "Don't fucking try me."

    "'Try this—you’ll [[love]] it."

    "to try weights or measures by a standard;  to try a person's opinions"

    "He was tried and [[execute]]d."

  4. Try as a verb (obsolete):

    To experiment, to strive. To have or gain knowledge of by experience. To work on something. To do; to fare. To settle; to decide; to determine; specifically, to decide by an appeal to arms. To attempt to conceive a child.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Milton"

    "You are trying too hard."

    "How do you try! (i.e., how do you do?)"

    "to try rival claims by a duel;  to try conclusions"

  5. Try as a verb (nautical):

    To lie to in heavy weather under just sufficient sail to head into the wind.

  6. Try as a verb:

    To strain; to subject to excessive tests.

    Examples:

    "The light tries his eyes."

    "Repeated failures try one's patience."

  7. Try as a verb (slang, chiefly, _, AAVE, used with another verb):

    To want

    Examples:

    "I am really not trying to hear you talk about my mama like that."

  1. Try as a noun:

    An attempt.

    Examples:

    "I gave unicycling a try but I couldn’t do it''."

  2. Try as a noun:

    An act of tasting or sampling.

    Examples:

    "I gave sushi a try but I didn’t like it''."

  3. Try as a noun (rugby):

    A score in rugby, analogous to a touchdown in American football.

    Examples:

    "Today I scored my first try''."

  4. Try as a noun (UK, dialect, obsolete):

    A screen, or sieve, for grain.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Holland"

  5. Try as a noun (American football):

    a field goal or extra point

  1. Try as an adjective (obsolete):

    Fine, excellent.