proving ground

noun

1
: a place for scientific experimentation or testing (as of vehicles or weapons)
2
: a place where something is developed or tried out

Examples of proving ground in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In March 2025, Aptera completed the first round of real-world validation testing for its solar electric vehicle, evaluating efficiency at a Mojave Desert proving ground. Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026 New York—home of Rucker Park, proving ground for Kareem, point guard holy land—is a basketball town, and one of the sport’s true capitals. Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 Feb. 2026 California was proving ground for immigration sweeps The militarized immigration sweeps that led to two deaths in Minneapolis began in California last year, with series of raids in Los Angeles in June that kicked of months of protests and legal wrangling. Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 13 Feb. 2026 Quarterback Jayden Maiava, who is returning for next season instead of declaring for the draft, will be USC’s biggest asset in a game that will serve as proving grounds for many Trojans. Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for proving ground

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of proving ground was circa 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Proving ground.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proving%20ground. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

proving ground

noun
: a place for scientific testing

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