Tried is the past tense of try, which means to make an effort or attempt to do something. When you tried to solve a difficult math problem, you worked at it even if you weren't sure you'd get the answer right. When an athlete tried to beat their personal record, they pushed themselves to do better than before.

The word captures something important about effort: you can try without succeeding. A scientist might try dozens of experiments before finding one that works. A baker might try a new recipe that doesn't turn out perfectly the first time. People sometimes say that the opposite of trying isn't failing; it's giving up before you start.

As an adjective, tried can mean tested by experience. Tried-and-true means something that's been tried and found successful and reliable. You might use your grandmother's tried-and-true recipe for chocolate chip cookies, or a brand-new untried recipe that you invented and want to try.