first time trial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first time trial" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an initial attempt or assessment in a competitive context, often related to sports or testing. Example: "She set a personal best during her first time trial in the cycling competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

He finished 1 16 behind Evans in the Tour's first time trial, in the fourth stage.

The New York Times - Sports

Also a strong climber, Julich lost more than eight minutes in the first time trial last year when he was trapped by a brief rainstorm.

The New York Times - Sports

"When I woke up and saw it was 19 degrees and raining, I was much happier than when it was 40 degrees at the first time trial".

The New York Times - Sports

Sastre lost more than a minute in the first time trial, which was only about half as long as the 33-mile second time trial.

The New York Times - Sports

The 20th stage was won by Stefan Schumacher, the Gerolsteiner rider who also won the first time trial and who wore the yellow jersey for two days.

The New York Times - Sports

"The first time trial has never been this late in the Tour for a long time, and it will shake up the overall standings".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

If the bike is not recovered before Friday, the day of the race's second time trial, he said he would use his backup bike.

The New York Times - Sports

Brailsford added that the Kenyan-born Chris Froome's recent fine performance at the Dauphine Libere time trial was "a good indication" of his ability, the implication being he might be in a position to take the second time trial slot alongside Bradley Wiggins.

The Guardian - Sport

He expanded his lead after winning the stage fifth time trial by eighteen seconds over the second placed finisher.

Wikipedia

In June, Van Dijk started as the main favourite at the Dutch National Time Trial Championships, but did not win her fourth time trial title.

Wikipedia

For the group of 12 -- sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and significant others -- seeing Armstrong win her second time trial (the first was at Beijing in 2008) was the highlight of their trip to the London Olympic Games.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a sports event, use "first time trial" to specifically indicate the initial competitive assessment, setting it apart from practice runs or qualifying events.

Common error

Avoid using "first time trial" to refer to a practice run or a casual timing exercise. Reserve it for the actual competitive event to maintain clarity and precision in your description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first time trial" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. The Ludwig examples show it describing a specific event in a series or a competitor's initial experience in the competition.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first time trial" is a grammatically correct and usable term in English, commonly found in sports reporting and encyclopedic content, used to denote an athlete's or team's initial competitive performance in a timed event. While Ludwig examples show the phrase isn't vastly common, it's well-understood. To offer variety in your writing, consider using alternatives like "initial time trial" or "debut time trial". Remember to reserve this term for actual competitive events, not practice sessions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial time trial

Replaces "first" with "initial", emphasizing the commencement aspect.

debut time trial

Substitutes "first" with "debut", highlighting the introductory nature of the event.

inaugural time trial

Uses "inaugural" instead of "first", providing a more formal tone.

opening time trial

Employs "opening" to indicate the start or beginning of the time trial.

maiden time trial

Replaces "first" with "maiden", suggesting a sense of novelty or newness.

first attempt at a time trial

Adds "attempt at", focusing on the act of trying something for the first time.

first experience in a time trial

Shifts the focus to the experiential aspect of the time trial.

first competitive time trial

Adds "competitive" to emphasize the competitive aspect of time trial.

first timed trial

Uses "timed" to emphasize timing/assessment aspect of time trial.

first ever time trial

Adds "ever" for emphasis, highlighting the uniqueness of the first occurrence.

FAQs

How can I use "first time trial" in a sentence?

You can use "first time trial" to describe an athlete's initial competitive assessment in a timed event, such as, "She set a personal best during her "first time trial" in the cycling competition."

What's the difference between "first time trial" and "qualifying time trial"?

The "first time trial" refers to the very first competitive time assessment, whereas a qualifying time trial is a preliminary event used to determine eligibility for a subsequent competition. The "qualifying time trial" isn't necessarily the first ever.

What can I say instead of "first time trial"?

You can use alternatives like "initial time trial", "debut time trial", or "inaugural time trial" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "first time trial" to describe a practice session?

No, it is not correct. The term "first time trial" should be reserved for the actual competitive event, not a practice session or casual timing exercise. For practice sessions, use terms like "practice run" or "timed training session".