try on

put on clothes to see if they fit or look good

B1

What does "try sth on" mean?

To try on a piece of clothing means to put it on your body to check whether it fits well and looks good, usually before deciding to buy it. This phrasal verb is closely connected to shopping — you take an item into a fitting room, put it on, and see if it works for you. The key idea is evaluation: you are not just getting dressed, you are making a decision. For example, you might try on several pairs of jeans before choosing the right size. It is used for any clothing or wearable accessory, such as dresses, jackets, shoes, hats, or rings.

Examples

How to use it

try on + clothing item

The most common structure, used when the object is a full noun phrase such as a dress, a pair of boots, or a coat.

I'd like to try on this jacket before I buy it.

try + clothing item + on

The object can also go between the verb and the particle — both orders are natural with short noun phrases.

She picked up a few dresses and tried each one on.

try + pronoun + on

When the object is a pronoun (it, them, this), it must go between the verb and the particle — you cannot say 'try on it'.

Do you have this coat in medium? I'd love to try it on.

Can I try on + clothing item?

This question form is one of the most useful fixed expressions for shopping situations and is very natural to use with a shop assistant.

Can I try on these boots in a size 8, please?

try on + a few / several + clothing items

Often used when a shopper tests multiple items in one visit, especially in a fitting room.

He tried on several suits before finding one that fitted perfectly.

Common Collocations

a dressshoesa jacketa pair of jeansa coatan outfit

Common Mistakes

Pronoun in the wrong position

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'try' and 'on'. Placing the pronoun after 'on' is not correct in English.

✗ I like this hat — can I try on it?
✓ I like this hat — can I try it on?
Confusing 'try on' with 'try out'

'Try on' is only used for clothing and accessories that you wear on your body. For testing gadgets, tools, recipes, or skills, use 'try out' instead.

✗ I want to try on this new coffee machine before I buy it.
✓ I want to try out this new coffee machine before I buy it.
Confusing 'try on' with 'put on'

'Put on' simply means to dress yourself in something. 'Try on' specifically means you are testing something to see if it fits or looks right — there is a sense of evaluation. Use 'try on' when you are deciding whether to buy or keep something.

✗ I put on three different jackets at the shop but didn't like any of them.
✓ I tried on three different jackets at the shop but didn't like any of them.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in all everyday situations, from talking to a shop assistant to chatting with a friend. In British English, 'try it on' can also mean to behave cheekily or try to deceive someone, so context usually makes the shopping meaning clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'try on' be used for accessories like rings or hats, or only for clothes?

Yes, you can use 'try on' for any item you wear on your body, including rings, hats, sunglasses, and scarves. The key is that the item is worn — so 'try on a ring' or 'try on a hat' are both completely natural. You would not use 'try on' for something you cannot wear, like a bag or a gadget.

Is 'try on' used the same way in British and American English?

The shopping meaning of 'try on' is equally common in both British and American English, so you can use it anywhere without worry. However, British English also has an informal use of 'try it on' meaning to behave cheekily or try to deceive someone — this is a separate meaning that is not used in American English, and context always makes it clear which sense is meant.

Does 'try on' always need an object, or can I use it without one?

'Try on' always needs an object — either a noun phrase or a pronoun — because you are always trying on something specific. You cannot simply say 'I tried on' and leave it there. If you have already mentioned the item, use a pronoun: 'I tried it on' or 'I tried them on'.

What's the most natural way to ask to use a fitting room?

The most common and natural expression is 'Can I try this on?' or 'Can I try these on?' — shop assistants hear these questions many times a day. You can also say 'Can I try on this dress?' if you want to name the item. Both are polite and perfectly natural in any shop.

Can 'try on' be used in the passive, like 'it was tried on'?

Technically, a passive form is possible, but it sounds very unnatural in everyday English. In practice, people almost always use the active form — for example, 'several customers tried it on' rather than 'it was tried on by several customers'. It is best to stick to the active form.

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