Try vs. Decide: What's the Difference?

Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || 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.

Sep 22, 2023

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.

Sep 22, 2023

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.

Sep 22, 2023

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.

Sep 22, 2023

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.

Sep 22, 2023

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Comparison Chart

Part of Speech

Verb

Verb

Sep 22, 2023

Implies

Attempt or effort to do or test something.

Making a choice or resolution after consideration.

Sep 22, 2023

Level of Certainty

Implies uncertainty and possibility of failure.

Implies a sense of finality and determination.

Sep 22, 2023

Focus

More about actions, can be externally focused.

Internally focused, dealing with mental processes.

Sep 22, 2023

Associated with

Experimentation and exploration.

Deliberation and selection among alternatives.

Sep 22, 2023

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Try and Decide Definitions

Try

To test or use experimentally.

Let's try this new recipe for dinner.

Sep 22, 2023

Decide

To make a final choice or judgment.

He will decide the date of the meeting.

Sep 22, 2023

Try

To make an attempt or effort to do something.

I will try my best to help you.

Sep 22, 2023

Decide

To settle conclusively all contention or uncertainty about.

The judge will decide the fate of the defendant.

Sep 22, 2023

Try

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

Tried to ski.

Apr 24, 2023

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Decide

To make up one's mind about.

She needs to decide her career path.

Sep 22, 2023

Try

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

Try this casserole.

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

To arrive at a conclusion.

The committee will decide on the proposals today.

Sep 22, 2023

Try

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

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

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

Decide what to do.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To conduct the trial of (a legal claim)

To try a negligence case.

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

To cause to make or reach a decision

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To put (an accused person) on trial.

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

To settle conclusively all contention or uncertainty about

Decide a case.

Decided the dispute in favor of the workers.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To subject to great strain or hardship; tax

The last steep ascent tried my every muscle.

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

To influence or determine the outcome of

A few votes decided the election.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

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

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

To pronounce a judgment; announce a verdict.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To make an effort; strive

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

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

An attempt; an effort.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

(transitive) to cause someone to come to a decision

Apr 24, 2023

Try

(obsolete) To divide; to separate.

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

(obsolete) to cut off; to separate

Apr 24, 2023

Try

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

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

To cut off; to separate.

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

Apr 24, 2023

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

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

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

Apr 24, 2023

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?

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To extract wax from a honeycomb

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

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

We finally decided after lengthy deliberations

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To test, to work out.

Apr 24, 2023

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

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

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

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

Cause to decide;

This new development finally decided me!

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To put to test.

I shall try my skills on this.

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

Influence or determine;

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

(specifically) To test someone's patience.

You are trying my patience.

Don't try me.

Apr 24, 2023

Decide

To influence or determine the outcome of.

The last goal will decide the match.

Sep 22, 2023

Try

To receive an imminent attack; to take.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To taste, sample, etc.

Oh, you need to try the soup of the day!

Apr 24, 2023

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

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

(legal) To put on trial.

He was tried and executed.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To experiment, to strive.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To have or gain knowledge of by experience.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

(obsolete) To do; to fare.

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

Apr 24, 2023

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To attempt to conceive a child.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To strain; to subject to excessive tests.

The light tries his eyes.

Repeated failures try one's patience.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To want

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

An attempt.

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

An act of tasting or sampling.

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

(rugby) A score in rugby league and rugby union, analogous to a touchdown in American football.

Today I scored my first try.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

A screen, or sieve, for grain.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

(American football) A field goal or extra point

Apr 24, 2023

Try

(chess) A move that almost solves a chess problem, except that Black has a unique defense.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

(obsolete) Fine, excellent.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To strain; to subject to excessive tests; as, the light tries his eyes; repeated disappointments try one's patience.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To experience; to have or gain knowledge of by experience.

Or try the Libyan heat or Scythian cold.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To exert strength; to endeavor; to make an effort or an attempt; as, you must try hard if you wish to learn.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To do; to fare; as, how do you try!

Apr 24, 2023

Try

A screen, or sieve, for grain.

Apr 24, 2023

Try

Act of trying; attempt; experiment; trial.

This breaking of his has been but a try for his friends.

Apr 24, 2023

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).

Apr 24, 2023

Try

Refined; select; excellent; choice.

Apr 24, 2023

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

Apr 24, 2023

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

Apr 24, 2023

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

Apr 24, 2023

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

Take a sample of;

Try these new crackers

Sample the regional dishes

Apr 24, 2023

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

Apr 24, 2023

Try

Give pain or trouble to;

I've been sorely tried by these students

Apr 24, 2023

Try

Test the limits of;

You are trying my patience!

Apr 24, 2023

Try

Melt (fat, lard, etc.) in order to separate out impurities;

Try the yak butter

Render fat in a casserole

Apr 24, 2023

Try

Put on a garment in order to see whether it fits and looks nice;

Try on this sweater to see how it looks

Apr 24, 2023

Try

To make an effort to achieve or complete something.

I will try to finish the project on time.

Sep 22, 2023

Try

To attempt to open or move something.

Try the door; it may be unlocked.

Sep 22, 2023

Try

To put to trial or to subject to a test.

The judge will try the case tomorrow.

Sep 22, 2023

FAQs

Does trying involve doing?

Yes, trying typically involves undertaking an action or activity.

Sep 22, 2023

Is it necessary to consider all options before deciding?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Is deciding always a rational process?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Can we try to decide?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Can try mean to test something?

Yes, try can mean testing or experimenting with something.

Sep 22, 2023

Can one try without doing?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Can trying lead to learning?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Does try always imply uncertainty?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Can one decide not to decide?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Can decide be used in a legal context?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Does deciding require commitment?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Is deciding always a conscious process?

Not always, sometimes decisions are made subconsciously or impulsively.

Sep 22, 2023

Can a decision be changed?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Is trying linked to learning?

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

Sep 22, 2023

Can trying imply exploring?

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

Sep 22, 2023

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About Author

Written by

Sawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.

Edited by

Huma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.