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

Example Sentences

The 1988 protests were a proving ground for activists, some still challenging military rule today.

From Barron's

Utah presented the perfect proving ground: desperate for water, and with a long history of cloud seeding.

From The Wall Street Journal

Financial reports are a crucial proving ground for AI.

From The Wall Street Journal

The most artistically vibrant theaters in Los Angeles and beyond are a proving ground for actors, where even stars such as Tom Hanks and Annette Bening turn up on stage.

From Los Angeles Times

Kennedy is hopeful that the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border club competition with teams from Scotland, Ireland and Wales that launched in 2023, can provide a proving ground to rival England's PWR in time.

From BBC