tryout
Americannoun
-
a trial or test to ascertain fitness for some purpose.
-
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:
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
Also baseball players are not allowed to participate in a professional tryout during their season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026
But on the day it mattered most, she flubbed her tryout and failed to make the team.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
True to my word, I get her a tryout for the cheer squad.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
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
But, according to the coach, it hasn't deterred hopefuls from applying, and this year was the first year the team's considered tryouts from people who have seen America's Sweethearts.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 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
They famously hosted tryouts for the Doo Dah Parade queen, an irreverent counter to Pasadena’s Rose Parade.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2025
The first letter reads: Chuck Bell, the Los Angeles Lakers would like to invite you to our free-agent tryouts.
From "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander
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.
