time trial

noun

: a competitive event (as in auto racing) in which individuals are successively timed over a set course or distance

Examples of time trial in a Sentence

He posted the second best lap in the time trials.

Recent Examples on the Web

The 36-year-old Slovenian shipped 25 seconds to the red jersey, falling to third behind Gall, and now has over two minutes to make up in next Thursday’s key 32km time trial in Cadiz. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Much of the time trial route on Saturday covered the same course as the yearly Formula 1 Grand Prix. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026

The fourth was a cycling time trial, covering about 13 miles in the southern part of Israel. — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

This can reduce drag, potentially saving valuable seconds in a time trial, where aerodynamics are crucial. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for time trial

• denial
• mistrial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• dial
• rial
• thiol
• vial
• sensorial