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

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

The loft was also a short walk to CBGB, soon to become the proving ground of New York’s punk revolution and the Heads’ primary live performance venue at the start of their career.

From Los Angeles Times