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• screen test
  screen test

  noun

  a filmed audition to determine the suitability of an individual for appearing or acting in a motion picture.
• screen-test
  screen-test

  verb (used with object)

  to give a screen test to.

screen test

¹ American  

noun

screen tests plural

1. a filmed audition to determine the suitability of an individual for appearing or acting in a motion picture.

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screen-test ² American  

[skreen-test] / ˈskrinˌtɛst /

verb (used with object)

1. to give a screen test to.

   The studio screen-tested 400 children before casting the part.

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verb (used without object)

1. to undergo a screen test.

   Dozens of actors have screen-tested for the role.

screen test British  

noun

1. a filmed audition of a prospective actor or actress to test suitability

2. the test film so made

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• screen tests
  plural

Etymology

Origin of screen test¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Origin of screen-test²

First recorded in 1965–70; v. use of noun phrase screen test

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

screen test screen-test

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

Paul Monash, the producer of “Slaughterhouse-Five,” which was based on Kurt Vonnegut’s acclaimed novel about World War II and time travel, directed the screen test.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2026

"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

I loved it and I gravitated towards it, was so happy to be cast in it, went out to LA to screen test for it a few times and ended up making the movie.

From Salon ● Jan. 21, 2025

I just needed to get a screen test with Warner Brothers.

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