proving ground

American  

noun

1. any place, context, or area for testing something, as a piece of scientific equipment, a theory, etc.

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proving ground British  

noun

1. a place or situation in which something new, such as equipment or a theory, can be tested

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Etymology

Origin of proving ground

First recorded in 1940–45

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

proving ground

Southern California high school football games have been used as a proving ground for years and a first stop for officials wanting to move to college and the NFL.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

"We're building a proving ground for Moon Base operations," said Ryan Stephan, NASA's Moon Base acting director of cargo landers.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

The race will be a proving ground for 2028.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

The Lobito Corridor mega-project linking three African countries is shifting from blueprint to proving ground in the global race for critical minerals.

From Barron's ● May 7, 2026

One proving ground only opened onto the next.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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