a filmed audition of a prospective actor or actress to test suitability
the test film so made
First recorded in 1920–25
First recorded in 1965–70; v. use of noun phrase screen test
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After that came actress-comedian Imogene Coca’s silly, charismatic 1936 screen test for David O. Selznick, followed by Selznick’s home movies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026
Longfellow had reportedly taped a screen test as a Weekend Update co-anchor alongside “SNL” writer KC Shornima, according to the outlet LateNighter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2025
The casting process for “Superman” was famously so tenuous that producer Ilya Salkind arranged for his wife’s dentist to get a screen test just because of his striking resemblance to the Man of Steel.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2025
"Instead of doing a screen test and auditions, it was like, 'we've seen your videos, here's your mic, here's your earpiece, off you pop'," he says.
From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2025
“Maybe I’ll get a screen test with Warner Brothers after all,” I mused.
From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
They met several times to talk about opportunities and she had a screen-test at Weinstein’s Miramax offices in New York.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 29, 2020
She had celebrated photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha shoot her portfolio, and was approached by Dharmendra’s agent in a hotel lobby, asking to screen-test her for a project designed to launch his son Bobby Deol.
From New York Times ● Feb. 23, 2012
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
