tryout

1 of 2

noun

try·​out ˈtrī-ˌau̇t How to pronounce tryout (audio)
: 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
There were four new walk-on players on the roster from the more than 40 who attended tryouts last week, though only TCU volleyball player Sarah Sylvester appeared briefly in the 66-60 win over UCF. Stephen Hawkins, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024 Maintain an even demeanor up to and on the day of the tryout. Stephen Borelli, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2024 The songs were part of what would ultimately become The Notebook, which—after a seven-year journey of out-of-town tryouts, a pandemic, and a variant wave or two—finally begins previews this weekend at Broadway’s Schoenfeld Theatre. Christopher Barnard, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2024 Some 80 hopefuls turned out the other day at the Gophers practice facility for the initial tryout of the Minnesota Myth Arena Football team that opens its season April 27 in Nashville, Tenn. Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2024 Euston keeps a black and white photograph of him hoisting a young woman during a tryout, then held at Ward Parkway shopping center. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 9 Feb. 2024 What started as a one-week gig developing a new musical turned into a several year journey for Pearce through workshops, an out of town tryout in Syracuse, New York, and the excitement of all the promotional pieces that go into taking a show to Broadway. Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 7 Feb. 2024 Another reason for the movie’s success was its feel-good nature and underdog story, especially during the film’s climax when Hill attends a professional tryout in front of legendary scout Red Murff. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Feb. 2024 Davis was then introduced to several assistant coaches and a player who were hanging up flyers about the tryout. Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 2 Feb. 2024
Verb
Miller is not the first male to try out for the team, Ying said, but was the only one among the group of about 50 hopefuls this season. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 This is the second time this week Lawrence has tried out a head covering. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 29 Feb. 2024 Swing into spring with a casual event where attendees can try out new swing skills in a pressure-free atmosphere while enjoying the expertise of all-star level competitors, instructors, judges and DJs. Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 Donald Trump is trying out his anti-China talking points ahead of the November election. William Pesek, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone who’s ever held their head a little higher after trying out a new look. Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 The Brandywine resident’s son tried out a different winning strategy on his most recent lottery run by taking a peek at someone else’s Pick 5 ticket, according to a Feb. 22 Maryland Lottery news release. Makiya Seminera, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 Harry tried out skeleton racing before the cameras, hitting a speed of 61 mph. William Booth, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 Camila Mendes tried out the look last week while promoting her new film, Upgraded. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tryout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1903, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tryout was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near tryout

Cite this Entry

“Tryout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tryout. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tryout

1 of 2 noun
try·​out ˈtrī-ˌau̇t How to pronounce tryout (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on tryout

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