tryout

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

Examples of tryout in a Sentence

Open tryouts for the team are next Monday.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are still tryouts set for Kansas City (June 2), Los Angeles (June 4) and Chicago (June 9). —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2026

Obviously, all the anxieties and tensions of a tryout were there, but Mike was just so helpful to a writer. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026

Devyn Holbrook had also never heard of handball before the tryouts. —ABC News, 15 May 2026

Stribling and the rest of the draft picks did not participate in the seven-on-seven sessions that followed the individual drills; the undrafted rookies and tryout players manned those. —Matt Barrows, New York Times, 11 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, 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