time trial

American  

noun

Sports.

1. a race in which competitors are timed individually on a set distance over a course or track, especially to qualify for a successive event.

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time trial British  

noun

1. (esp in cycling) a race in which the competitors compete against the clock over a specified course

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Other Word Forms

• time-trialling
  noun

Etymology

Origin of time trial

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

time trial

The 28-year-old McNulty has long been a top American, especially in the race-against-the-clock format of the time trial.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

So it’s no coincidence that Evenepoel is a multiple world and Olympic champion in the individual time trial, a pure exercise of power and efficiency.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

“I posted a better time than what I had planned with my team, so I can’t complain about my race,” he said after the time trial.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

Lauren Dickson and Pfeiffer Georgi will likely lead the women's team in the road race and Zoe Backstedt will be expected to contend for the rainbow bands in the time trial.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

Eugene Hammond was able to drive the auto on to the Vigo County fairgrounds, where he demonstrated it in a time trial, finishing first.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck