test the waters

phrase

variants or less commonly test the water

: to make a preliminary test or survey (as of reaction or interest) before embarking on a course of action

Examples of test the waters in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Matching the offer to the bettor A cautious bettor testing the waters gains more from DraftKings or bet365, since both pay out regardless of whether the first bet wins. — Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

The Phillies will have to keep testing the waters in leverage situations over the next two weeks to figure out what gives them the best chance to win. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Offer To Host Your Child’s Sleepover Before you OK a sleepover at a friend’s house, let your child test the waters by inviting their pal to yours. — Karen Cicero, Parents, 11 Sep. 2026

One fan thought the announcement of the compilation seemed like a marketing ploy to test the waters for a potential reunion, and if that’s the case, the demand is clearly there. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for test the waters

• backwaters
• breakwaters
• floodwaters
• granddaughters
• groundwaters
• headwaters
• shearwaters
• wastewaters
• blotters
• daughters
• otters
• plotters