tryout

1 of 2

noun

try·​out ˈtrī-ˌau̇t 

: an experimental performance or demonstration: such as

a

: a test of the ability (as of an athlete or actor) to fill a part or meet standards

b

: a performance of a play prior to its official opening to determine response and discover weaknesses

try out

2 of 2

verb

tried out; trying out; tries out

intransitive verb

: to compete for a position especially on an athletic team or for a part in a play

Examples of tryout in a Sentence

Noun

Open tryouts for the team are next Monday.

Verb

want to try out my new skateboard?

tried out his skill at archery

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 49ers also were coming off a two-win season when DeBartolo hired Bill Walsh as coach in 1979, and Joe Montana vividly recalls how the 49ers were so desperate for talent that mass tryouts would occur after Saturday practices. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026

Sean Campbell’s workload as Leesburg High School’s co-athletic director and boys basketball coach got a lot heavier six years ago, when the school’s girls basketball coach quit on the morning of the first day of tryouts. —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026

Verb

Her fellow model Alex Consani followed suit, admitting that Yai influenced her to try out the hack. —Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026

To try out Adidas’s cloud-like designs for yourself, consider these Ultraboost running sneakers. —Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1903, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tryout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

tryout

1 of 2 noun

try·​out ˈtrī-ˌau̇t 

: a test of the ability (as of an actor or athlete) to fill a part or meet standards

try out

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)trī-ˈau̇t

: to take part in a tryout especially for a position on an athletic team or a part in a play