tryout
Americannoun
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tryouts
plural
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a trial or test to ascertain fitness for some purpose.
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Theater. performances of a play in preparation for an official opening, often taking place away from a major theatrical center.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tryout
An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; noun use of verb phrase try out
Vocabulary lists containing tryout
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Kerr left the Alaskan frontier believing baseball could be his future and was able to land a tryout for a pair of MLB scouts at a high school in Reno.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
After an open-call tryout, a vessel switch partway through the competition, and a good deal of skepticism, Koch’s women’s team—which included celebrated sailor and 1992 member Dawn Riley—had proven its mettle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
While veterans jockey for new contracts during free agency, young players are getting their tryout opportunities with NBA summer league games beginning this week.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
“That’s hard to do. But at many of these places, you can do a tryout and stay in a unit for a week,” said Horowitz.
From MarketWatch ● May 8, 2026
With everything that’s riding on this tryout, just the thought makes me nervous.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
Brady’s draft process gave Trey and Dino a preview for this year, setting expectations for meetings, tryouts, and the day itself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Sitting in the center of the room, personally overseeing the tryouts, Wembanyama conducted a series of unusually loud job interviews—listening to chants, gauging volume and pressure-testing die-hard levels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
Any fan interested was to report to the Freeman Coliseum—a historic rodeo arena next door to the Spurs’ home court—for tryouts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
As each year’s tryouts get more competitive, Doucette sees his hope for the sport coming true.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2025
“Oh, you heard soccer tryouts are day after tomorrow?”
From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
