trial run

American

noun

a preliminary performance or test of something, as of the operation of a ship or the effectiveness of a play.

trial run British

noun

a test drive in a vehicle to assess its performance
a test or rehearsal of something new or untried to assess its effectiveness

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of trial run

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Following a trial run, the retailer will also expand its fine-jewelry offerings — an area it has tried to reinvigorate in recent years — to 350 more locations.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

The first draw is a trial run for a scheme that the city could extend, the official said, adding that there was an "ecological interest" in reusing burial plots.

From Barron's • Nov. 6, 2025

When Margaret spoke with Salon in April, she was in the middle of a monthlong trial run working remotely to get a feel for her workflow for when she and Dale eventually move.

From Salon • May 18, 2025

The World Cup surface, which will be improved with information gathered during this month’s trial run, will be installed in April 2026, about two months before the U.S. team’s World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2025

Today was our trial run, and it came through way better than I ever thought it would.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023