test

A test is a series of questions or problems that is used to determine a person’s ability or understanding of something. More generally, test refers to a trial, experiment, or examination that is designed to determine the qualities or characteristics of someone or something. As a verb, test means to assess someone’s knowledge or abilities, to put someone or something through a trial, or to try something out. The word test has several other senses as a noun and a verb.

A test is a collection of questions, tasks, or problems that are designed to see if a person understands a subject or to measure their ability to do something.

Real-life examples: Most schooling involves taking tests in many subjects, such as math and history. Lawyers must do well on a particularly difficult test, known as the bar examination, to be able to practice law.

Used in a sentence: I studied all night for my chemistry test. 

Test can also be used in this context as a verb meaning to administer such a test.

Real-life examples: Teachers test their students’ knowledge by giving them quizzes and tests.

Used in a sentence: Yes, you will be tested on this.

As a noun, test also refers to an experiment or trial that is designed to discover information about something.

Real-life examples: Scientists and researchers create many tests (often called experiments) to learn new information or to see if a hypothesis is correct. A test of a chemical might involve how it reacts with other chemicals. Companies and businesses use safety tests to see if their products are safe for customers. A pregnancy test analyzes body fluids for hormones to determine whether someone is pregnant.

Used in a sentence: The scientists used several different tests to determine how much pollution was in the drinking water. 

Related to this sense, test can mean to put something through a trial or test or to try it.

Real-life examples: People often test products before purchasing them. When buying a car, you can test how it drives by taking it on a test drive. Testing a person often involves making them endure some kind of trial.

Used in a sentence: The boss is just testing you because you’re new—he wants to see if you can handle the pressure.

The first records of the word test come from around 1350. It ultimately comes from the Latin word testū, meaning “an earthen pot.”

In Middle English, test was used to refer to a cupel, a container used to analyze ores.

What are some other forms related to test?

• testable (adjective)
• tester (noun)
• testing (continuous tense verb, noun, adjective)

What are some synonyms for test?

• examination
• trial
• experiment
• evaluation
• analysis
• examine
• try
• investigate
• assess
• analyze

What are some words that share a root or word element with test? 

• test-drive
• test-market
• acid test
• litmus test
• put to the test

What are some words that often get used in discussing test?

• math
• standardized
• safety
• taste
• results
• analyze

Test is commonly used to refer to an academic exam. More generally, it refers to a trial that someone or something undergoes.

i got 57 on my biology test 😭

— mar ◟̽◞̽ᴴ owns mads’♡🤍 (@mariassnflwrlou) November 18, 2020

We are continuing to perform tests of possible solutions to restore missing currencies and materials to players. Destiny 2 will remain offline until the issue can be resolved. We will provide another update by 2 PM Pacific.

— Bungie Help (@BungieHelp) January 28, 2020

Scaling up can be tricky. To go from #SaaS start-up to industry leader, you need to move fast, test what works, and deliver more leads with campaigns.

See how @Thinkific is using @Unbounce #landingpages to grow like a dream SaaS business. https://t.co/9demdTU9B4 pic.twitter.com/nXaEPsOShO

— Charles Igbelokotor (@CIgbelokotor) December 14, 2020

Is test used correctly in the following sentence?

The company ran the new soap through many tests to make sure it didn’t cause skin irritation.