1.
to put on clothes, shoes or accessories to check them
“Can I try this dress on?”
“Try them on, they look nice.”
“She tried on five jackets.”
Synonyms: to test, to fit
Phrasal verb
What does try on mean?
Meaning: to put on clothes to check them
B1
This page for:
Quick answer
Try on = to put on clothes to see if they fit (before you buy them). Try this on = put this on and see. It is separable, and a pronoun always goes in the middle: try it on. It is different from try out = to test something (a product).
Meanings of the phrasal verb
Word order
Separable
The object can go between the verb and the particle. With a pronoun (it, them), it always goes between.
Forms
- Present Simple:
- try on
- Past Simple:
- tried on
- Past participle:
- tried on
- -ing form:
- trying on
Common mistakes to avoid
With a pronoun: in the middle
Try it on ✓ / Try on it ❌. You hear this a lot when people go shopping.
Try on or try out?
Try on = to put on clothes to check them. Try out = to test a product or an activity. Try on the shirt / Try out the bike.
Regular verb, but y → ied
Try → tried (the y becomes ied in the Past Simple and the past participle). I tried on the shoes ✓ / I tryed on the shoes ❌.
Practice quiz
Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank
Related pages: try on
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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Frequently asked questions
What does try on mean?+
Try on means to put on clothes, shoes or glasses before you buy them, to see if they fit and look good. It is a basic shopping verb.
Is try on separable?+
Yes. With a noun, both orders work: try on the jacket / try the jacket on. With a pronoun: try it on ✓.
What is the difference between try on, try out and try?+
Try is general: to make an effort, or to test something (food too). Try on = to put on clothes before you buy them. Try out = to test a product or an activity (a bike, a game). Try this cake (taste it) / Try on this shirt (put it on) / Try out the new game (test it).
What do you call the room where you try on clothes?+
Say fitting room (UK and US, the most common) or changing room (UK). Where's the fitting room? = where can I try on clothes?
What is the past simple of try on?+
Tried on. Try is regular, but the y changes: try → tried.
Related phrasal verbs
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/phrasal-verbs/try-on
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.