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
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.
Noun
The actress, who won The Voice Kids UK and later triumphed in X Factor: The Band with her group RLY, previously played the role of Ali to critical acclaim during the show’s out-of-town tryouts in Manchester and Glasgow. Dave Quinn, People.com, 27 May 2025 Co-created by Powell and Michael Waldron, the show from 20th Television is based on a popular 2022 sketch in which Eli Manning showed up at Penn State’s walk-on tryouts in disguise. Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 14 May 2025
Verb
This pack of 10 stretchy bands gives you a rainbow of new colors to try out when the mood strikes, including lavender, maroon, and two shades of green. Clint Davis, People.com, 30 May 2025 For a long time, breaking into the tech industry meant trying out your luck in a few specific places, such as Silicon Valley, New York or Boston, but that’s no longer the case. Nacho De Marco, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for tryout

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

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tryout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tryout. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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

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!