field-test
Americanverb (used with object)
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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field-testsimple
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field-testssimple
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have field-testedperfect
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has field-testedperfect
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am field-testingprogressive
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are field-testingprogressive
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is field-testingprogressive
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have been field-testingperfect progressive
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has been field-testingperfect progressive
Past
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field-testedsimple
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had field-testedperfect
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was field-testingprogressive
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were field-testingprogressive
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had been field-testingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of field-test
An Americanism dating back to 1915–20
Explanation
When scientists or researchers field-test something, they try it or test it in the environment in which it's intended to be used. Engineers, developers, and inventors all have reason to field-test products. For example, if a drug company is developing a new medicine, they might first test it in a laboratory and then field-test it, having actual patients try it. Educators might field-test a new curriculum, and military planners often field-test weapons or vehicles before outfitting entire armies with them. In field-test, the field is the "natural location or context."
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.
See Examples For:
Simpli-Fi Automation of St. Paul, Minn.—which has an exclusive license to use NASA’s scent technology for medical applications—is preparing to field-test a commercial device that analyzes breath on a larger scale.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026
Another possibility is that SBF is trying to sow doubt about his villainy in the minds of eventual jurors, or at least field-test how one defense might work on them.
From Slate ● Jan. 20, 2023
Vassiliou says that he has received funding to field-test the system and partner with scientists on the ground to refine the invention.
From Scientific American ● Jan. 3, 2022
Harrell’s therapist is helping field-test VR content for a company called Limbix, an arrangement between the company and the National Mental Health Innovation Center at University of Colorado’s medical school.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 18, 2018
For example, one might see the following: I resently had occasion to field-test the Snafu Systems 2300E adaptive gonkulator.
From The Jargon File, Version 2.9.10, 01 Jul 1992 by Raymond, Eric S.
Because there are so few questions on the census, making accurate responses crucial, the bureau typically field-tests new questions for years before deciding whether to use them.
From New York Times ● Nov. 4, 2018
The state is throwing in more questions as it phases in the Common Core Learning Standards, and field-tests questions for future exams, meaning they are being vetted for possible inclusion on future tests.
From New York Times ● Apr. 24, 2012
But until now the technology hasn't been field-tested in dry climates.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2023
“But it also speaks to the ad hoc nature of the response, revealing vulnerabilities to increasingly sophisticated — and field-tested — Iranian technology, and it exposes an asymmetry in defending against the threat.”
From Washington Times ● Nov. 5, 2022
This hypothesis, developed by Sheila K. Johnson, has now been modestly field-tested by her and published in Trans-action.
From Scientific American ● Mar. 6, 2021
It was field-tested in Indianapolis in August, when five non-toxic chemicals were released and tracked.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 3, 2020
Defarge, knotting my fate inexorably into the stitches of this nobly field-tested woolen garment.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
The UN's World Food Programme is preparing to begin field-testing a version of the AI-enabled truck that can be steered remotely through the most dangerous and difficult terrain to reach people in need.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Elon Musk’s attempt to beat his way out of paying $44 billion for Twitter has reached its latest phase, after months of Musk field-testing his legal argument in public.
From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2022
Day Zero Diagnostics in Boston is field-testing a sequencing and analysis service that allows hospitals to quickly detect infectious disease outbreaks.
From New York Times ● Feb. 24, 2020
That would mean demonstrating the effective and reliable use of new technology through rigorous field-testing before advancing fragile weapons systems to the production stage, ensuring future maintenance and other headaches for troops in combat.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2019
U. S. Robots had to get the bugs out of the multiple robot, and there were plenty of bugs, and there are always at least half a dozen bugs left for the field-testing.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
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.
