tryst

American  

[trist, trahyst] / trɪst, traɪst /

noun

1. an appointment to meet at a certain time and place, especially one made somewhat secretly by lovers.

   Synonyms:

   rendezvous, assignation

2. an appointed meeting.

   Synonyms:

   rendezvous, assignation

3. an appointed place of meeting.

   Synonyms:

   rendezvous

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verb (used with object)

1. Chiefly Scot. to make an appointment or arrange a meeting with.

verb (used without object)

1. Chiefly Scot. to make an appointment or agreement.

tryst British  

/ traɪst, trɪst /

noun

1. an appointment to meet, esp secretly

2. the place of such a meeting or the meeting itself

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verb

1. (intr) to meet at or arrange a tryst

Usage

What does tryst mean? A tryst is an appointment made to meet at a specific place and time, especially one made in secret by lovers, as in The two employees arranged a tryst for meeting secretly after work. Tryst is also the meeting itself or the place where the meeting will happen, as in Paul snuck out of his room and headed to the tryst. Uncommonly, tryst can be used as a verb to mean to plan a meeting, as in Romeo and Juliet met outside the balcony and secretly trysted.   Example: The married businessman denied all accusations that he had had a secret tryst with one of his female business partners.

Other Word Forms

• tryster noun

Etymology

Origin of tryst

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English triste “appointed hunting-station,” from Old French, from Germanic; compare Gothic trausti “agreement, arrangement,” akin to Middle English trist “confidence,” Old English tryst (unrecorded); trow, trust

Example Sentences

I didn’t understand it all until my Xiaomi tryst.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

What made Mumbai's tryst with Art Deco particularly interesting was how the city embraced its hallmarks in a truly all-encompassing manner.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025

The tryst didn’t just give some of today’s wolves a black coat—it has also helped them survive in parts of North America where a measleslike virus can run rampant, according to a new study.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 19, 2022

Not because of shame, but out of a sense of parental responsibility, said Mr. Kugler, who started attending a gay fathers’ support group at a local Methodist church soon after his tryst with the client.

From New York Times • May 6, 2022

“Tonight my Lover-Husband and I made a tryst with the future,” Elizebeth wrote.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• assignation
• rendezvous