trial run

American  

noun

1. a preliminary performance or test of something, as of the operation of a ship or the effectiveness of a play.

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trial run British  

noun

1. a test drive in a vehicle to assess its performance

2. a test or rehearsal of something new or untried to assess its effectiveness

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Etymology

Origin of trial run

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

If those items do well, he said Sweetgreen plans to expand the offerings beyond that trial run in the middle of the year.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

Perched on a bluff above the Mississippi River at the University of Minnesota, the museum was a trial run for Bilbao and Disney, without the help of advanced digital tools.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

The first draw is a trial run for a scheme that the city could extend, the official said, adding that there was an "ecological interest" in reusing burial plots.

From Barron's • Nov. 6, 2025

When Margaret spoke with Salon in April, she was in the middle of a monthlong trial run working remotely to get a feel for her workflow for when she and Dale eventually move.

From Salon • May 18, 2025

I had been so lost in thinking about the dream that I hadn’t even felt him take my hand to start that trial run.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken