put (someone or something) to the test

idiom

: to cause (someone or something) to be in a situation that shows how strong, good, etc., that person or thing really is
Tomorrow's game will really put the team to the test.
We decided to put the theory to the test with a little experiment.

Examples of put (someone or something) to the test in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The actress, 35, spoke to her Night Always Comes costar Vanessa Kirby for Interview magazine, at one point revealing how her friendships have been put to the test during her rise to fame. Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Moore’s strength was put to the test as the fires and loss of her home changed her plans for her first few months with Lou. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 14 Aug. 2025 This skill was recently put to the test in her own Parisian home, a 1930s apartment that Rouzaud transformed from top to bottom. Paola Singer, Architectural Digest, 11 Aug. 2025 That outlook was put to the test recently when her husband broke his femur and punctured his lung in a crash at the track. Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for put (someone or something) to the test

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Put (someone or something) to the test.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20%28someone%20or%20something%29%20to%20the%20test. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!