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
While seated at a piano, with his Nana alongside for the tryout, Blake impressed the judges and earned a Golden Ticket to advance. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 The credit, which was passed by the state legislature in 2022, provides $2 million in tax credits to a theatrical production that has spent at least $10 million in the state to mount a Broadway tryout or to originate a new national tour. Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2024 There won't be tryouts and Hill's hope is to have the roster picked at some point during the NBA playoffs, which makes sometime in May a logical target for a team unveiling. Tim Reynolds, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024 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
Verb
There are big benefits to be had—one French company, LDLC, tried out the compressed week and saw that turnover was up 40% without needing to hire additional talent, according to the World Economic Forum. Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 20 Mar. 2024 There are so many people who try out for the show and not a lot of chefs make it. Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 Instead of keeping larger stores open, the company is trying out flagship options to see if customers will gravitate towards those stores. USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 Her organization is expanding its members, and artists are trying out new art forms and mediums. Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 Jack Wishard Los Angeles :: Perhaps Trevor Bauer should try out for the Raiders at QB. Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Some will be 'losers' Last year, a bill that would have allowed students at small private schools to try out for public school sports teams failed in the House after passing the Senate. The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 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

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 29 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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