contend vs try for

contend and try for both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
contend	No	No	Yes	No
try for	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, try for is a hyponym of contend; that is, try for is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than contend:

contend: compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
try for: make an attempt at achieving something

Other hyponyms of contend include go for, play, run off, race, run, rival, emulate, equal, match, rival, touch.

contend (verb)	try for (verb)
to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation	make an attempt at achieving something
have an argument about something
maintain or assert
compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available