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 IPL, critics argued, was a domestic proving ground - impressive, but not definitive.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Josh Woodward, who oversees the Gemini app as well as Google Labs—a proving ground of sorts for new AI applications—called the launch of Nano Banana a “success disaster.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026

For now, what's on the court for Baylor is a young man with a wealth of international experience and a chance to make a splash in a prime proving ground for NBA talent.

From Barron's • Jan. 4, 2026

But, the thinking went, there is a perfect proving ground conveniently circling the Earth, never more than about three days’ travel time away.

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2025

One proving ground only opened onto the next.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama