tryout

USAGE SUMMARY

"tryout" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is used as a noun to refer to an event or test used to decide who is the best person or team for a particular job or activity. For example, "The tryout was very challenging, but I am confident that I will succeed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Upshaw played only one year of high school football, but he earned an athletic scholarship to Texas College of Arts and Industries (now Texas A&M University Kingsville) after an impressive tryout for the football team.

Encyclopedia Britannica

After a helter-skelter tryout, the show opened in New York City at the 63rd Street Music Hall (renamed Daly's 63rd Street Theatre the following year) on May 23 , 1921 as the first all-black musical to be presented on Broadway in more than a decade.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Then he played in the Eastern Basketball Association, which led to a tryout for the Virginia Squires (at that time the NBA required that players be out of high school for four years before entry into the league).

Encyclopedia Britannica

At age 24, with no recent organized football experience outside of games played with his army base team, Lane walked into the offices of the Los Angeles Rams in 1952 and asked for a tryout.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She did skate in the 2004 world championship (after a mandatory tryout ordered by the Russian ice-skating federation), but she was less than fit and finished ninth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

After an unsuccessful tryout with the Cincinnati Reds, he moved to Los Angeles at age 21 to pursue an acting career.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Then, last May a friend of Howard's received the opportunity of a WWE tryout in London.

Independent

During its Boston tryout the show's bittersweet portrayal of marriage ("It's the concerts you enjoy together, neighbours you annoy together, children you destroy together... .....) did not find favour, and Robert's climactic song, "Happily Ever After" was considered nihilistic and anti-marriage.

Independent

"He asked to stay at my place," recalls Howard, "So I sent them an email and I managed to get a tryout sorted out too".

Independent

Talk story about the track-and-field Olympic tryout in N.Y the 10,000 metre walking race.

The New Yorker

He said that any player who gets cut from the Mets is welcome to a free tryout with the Doubleday softball team.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a formal evaluation for a specific role or team, use "tryout" to convey the competitive nature of the process.

Common error

Avoid using "workout" when you mean "tryout". "Workout" refers to physical exercise, while a "tryout" is an evaluation or test.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "tryout" is as a noun, referring to a test or evaluation, especially for athletic teams or performing arts groups. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage across various contexts. It functions as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting the event itself.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

8%

Wiki

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tryout" functions primarily as a noun, signifying a competitive evaluation process. Ludwig AI validates that the term is frequently and correctly used across diverse contexts, particularly in sports, arts, and professional settings. Its register is generally neutral, rendering it appropriate for both formal and informal communication. While alternatives such as "audition" or "trial" exist, "tryout" specifically emphasizes the competitive element. Understanding its nuances helps ensure precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

audition

A formal test of a performer's suitability.

trial

A test of the performance, qualities, or suitability of someone or something.

test

A procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use.

trial run

A preliminary test or practice of something.

selection process

Emphasizes the broader evaluation method.

assessment

Highlights the evaluation aspect.

evaluation

Focuses on judging the value or quality.

qualifying round

Used in a competition context.

screening

Suggests a filtering process.

preliminary examination

A more formal and thorough evaluation.

FAQs

How to use "tryout" in a sentence?

You can use "tryout" to describe a test or evaluation for a team or role. For example, "He earned a scholarship after an impressive "tryout" for the football team."

What can I say instead of "tryout"?

You can use alternatives like "audition", "trial", or "test" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "tryout" or "trial out"?

"Tryout" is a noun referring to the event itself, while "trial out" (though less common) could be used as a verb, but it's generally better to use "try out" as a verb phrase. For example: "He will try out for the team."

What's the difference between a "tryout" and an "assessment"?

A ""tryout"" typically refers to a competitive evaluation for a specific team or role, often in sports or performing arts. "Assessment" is a more general term for evaluating someone's skills or abilities, and may not involve direct competition.