Try vs. Decide: What's the Difference?

Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 3, 2023

To try means to attempt to do or test something; to decide means to make a choice or resolution after consideration.

Key Differences

Try and decide are verbs in the English language, with different connotations and uses. Try is primarily used to convey an attempt or effort to perform a specific action or attain a certain outcome. It implies a level of uncertainty regarding the result of the action, as the outcome is not guaranteed. Decide, on the other hand, is used to represent the process of making a choice or coming to a conclusion about something, implying a sense of finality and determination in the chosen course of action.

In the context of usage, when one uses the word try, it suggests that the individual is making an effort or an attempt, and there’s an existence of a possibility of failure or success. It does not assure the accomplishment of the task or goal. In contrast, when one decides to do something, it signifies that the individual has reached a conclusion and has made up their mind to follow a certain path or course of action. There is a clear commitment involved in deciding.

Delving into the intricacies, to try reflects an individual's willingness to engage in an activity or a task, regardless of the eventual outcome. It is often associated with experimentation and exploration, offering a chance to learn and experience. Decide, conversely, involves careful consideration and deliberation before settling on a specific choice or option. It is a mental process that leads to the selection of a course of action among several alternatives.

Analyzing further, try is usually about actions and can be more externally focused, often relating to physical or tangible efforts. For instance, one might try to lift a heavy object or try a new type of food. Decide is more internally focused, dealing with mental processes and the resolution of dilemmas or choices. One decides between options, resolving uncertainty through choice, such as deciding to take a new job or deciding on a meal to order.

In summary, while try and decide are integral parts of human actions and thoughts, they stand apart in their representation of human endeavors. Trying is about making efforts and attempts, enveloped in uncertainty and exploration, whereas deciding is about making choices and resolutions, enveloped in determination and commitment.

Comparison Chart

Part of Speech

Verb

Implies

Attempt or effort to do or test something.

Making a choice or resolution after consideration.

Level of Certainty

Implies uncertainty and possibility of failure.

Implies a sense of finality and determination.

Focus

More about actions, can be externally focused.

Internally focused, dealing with mental processes.

Associated with

Experimentation and exploration.

Deliberation and selection among alternatives.

Try and Decide Definitions

Try

To test or use experimentally.

Let's try this new recipe for dinner.

Decide

To make a final choice or judgment.

He will decide the date of the meeting.

Try

To make an attempt or effort to do something.

I will try my best to help you.

Decide

To settle conclusively all contention or uncertainty about.

The judge will decide the fate of the defendant.

Try

To make an effort to do or accomplish (something); attempt

Tried to ski.

Decide

To make up one's mind about.

She needs to decide her career path.

Try

To taste, sample, or otherwise test in order to determine strength, effect, worth, or desirability

Try this casserole.

Decide

To arrive at a conclusion.

The committee will decide on the proposals today.

Try

To make an effort to open (a closed door or window).

Decide

To reach a conclusion or form a judgment or opinion about (something) by reasoning or consideration

Decide what to do.

Try

To conduct the trial of (a legal claim)

To try a negligence case.

Decide

To cause to make or reach a decision

"The presence of so many witnesses decided him at once to flee" (Robert Louis Stevenson).

Try

To put (an accused person) on trial.

Decide

To settle conclusively all contention or uncertainty about

Decide a case.

Decided the dispute in favor of the workers.

Try

To subject to great strain or hardship; tax

The last steep ascent tried my every muscle.

Decide

To influence or determine the outcome of

A few votes decided the election.

Try

To melt (lard, for example) to separate out impurities; render.

Decide

To pronounce a judgment; announce a verdict.

Try

To make an effort; strive

I know it's not easy, but keep trying!.

Decide

To reach a decision; make up one's mind.

Try

An attempt; an effort.

Decide

(ambitransitive) to resolve (a contest, problem, dispute, etc.); to choose, determine, or settle

The election will be decided on foreign policies.

We must decide our next move.

Her last-minute goal decided the game.

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.

Decide

(intransitive) to make a judgment, especially after deliberation

You must decide between good and evil.

I have decided that it is healthier to walk to work.

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.

Decide

(transitive) to cause someone to come to a decision

Try

(obsolete) To divide; to separate.

Decide

(obsolete) to cut off; to separate

Try

To separate (precious metal etc.) from the ore by melting; to purify, refine.

Decide

To cut off; to separate.

Our seat denies us traffic here;The sea, too near, decides us from the rest.

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

Decide

To bring to a termination, as a question, controversy, struggle, by giving the victory to one side or party; to render judgment concerning; to determine; to settle.

So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.

The quarrel toucheth none but us alone;Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.

Try

(nautical) To extract oil from blubber or fat; to melt down blubber to obtain oil

Decide

To determine; to form a definite opinion; to come to a conclusion; to give decision; as, the court decided in favor of the defendant.

Who shall decide, when doctors disagree?

Try

To extract wax from a honeycomb

Decide

Reach, make, or come to a decision about something;

We finally decided after lengthy deliberations

Try

To test, to work out.

Decide

Bring to an end; settle conclusively;

The case was decided

The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff

The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance

Try

To make an experiment. Usually followed by a present participle.

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

Decide

Cause to decide;

This new development finally decided me!

Try

To put to test.

I shall try my skills on this.

Decide

Influence or determine;

The vote in New Hampshire often decides the outcome of the Presidential election

Try

(specifically) To test someone's patience.

You are trying my patience.

Don't try me.

Decide

To influence or determine the outcome of.

The last goal will decide the match.

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 achieve or complete something.

I will try to finish the project on time.

Try

To attempt to open or move something.

Try the door; it may be unlocked.

Try

To put to trial or to subject to a test.

The judge will try the case tomorrow.

FAQs

Does trying involve doing?

Yes, trying typically involves undertaking an action or activity.

Is it necessary to consider all options before deciding?

Ideally, yes, but people may decide impulsively without considering all options.

Is deciding always a rational process?

Not always. Deciding can be based on emotions, intuition, or rational thinking.

Can we try to decide?

Yes, people often try to decide when weighing different options.

Can try mean to test something?

Yes, try can mean testing or experimenting with something.

Can one try without doing?

Trying inherently involves some level of action or effort, so it does involve doing.

Can trying lead to learning?

Absolutely, trying new things can lead to learning and growth.

Does try always imply uncertainty?

Generally, yes. Try implies an attempt with uncertain outcomes.

Can one decide not to decide?

Yes, deciding not to make a decision is a form of decision.

Can decide be used in a legal context?

Yes, it can refer to a judgment or resolution in legal contexts.

Does deciding require commitment?

Generally, deciding implies a commitment to a chosen course of action.

Is deciding always a conscious process?

Not always, sometimes decisions are made subconsciously or impulsively.

Can a decision be changed?

Yes, decisions can often be revised or reversed, depending on the circumstances.

Is trying linked to learning?

Yes, trying is integral to the learning process as it involves experimentation and experience.

Can trying imply exploring?

Yes, trying often involves exploring new activities, ideas, or possibilities.

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About Author

Written by

Janet White

Janet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.

Edited by

Aimie Carlson

Aimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.