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
tried out; trying out; tries out
: 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
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Sean Campbell’s workload as Leesburg High School’s co-athletic director and boys basketball coach got a lot heavier six years ago, when the school’s girls basketball coach quit on the morning of the first day of tryouts.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2026
Alibaba is spending a whopping CNY3 billion, about $434 million, to get users to try out Qwen.
—Eunice Yoon, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tryout
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Noun
The 49ers also were coming off a two-win season when DeBartolo hired Bill Walsh as coach in 1979, and Joe Montana vividly recalls how the 49ers were so desperate for talent that mass tryouts would occur after Saturday practices.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Sean Campbell’s workload as Leesburg High School’s co-athletic director and boys basketball coach got a lot heavier six years ago, when the school’s girls basketball coach quit on the morning of the first day of tryouts.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
The challenges associated with this path are everywhere; at a bigger school, there may be so many kids who try out for the team there are often not enough spots.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2026
Alibaba is spending a whopping CNY3 billion, about $434 million, to get users to try out Qwen.
—Eunice Yoon, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tryout
Cite this Entry
“Tryout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tryout. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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