What does tryout mean?
Tryout is chiefly a noun meaning an audition, trial, or other evaluation of someone's ability before they are chosen for a role, team, program, or other position. In sports, a tryout is commonly the practice or selection session through which coaches assess players; the plural tryouts often names the larger event. In the performing arts, the term can likewise mean an audition, especially for an ensemble or production. The related verb is normally written try out, with a space: a performer may try out for a part, while an athlete tries out for a team. As a noun, tryout is especially characteristic of American English, while British speakers often prefer trial, audition, or selection. The word is generally neutral in tone, though it can imply that the assessment is preliminary yet may determine selection. Its usefulness lies in conveying both the act of evaluation and the competition or uncertainty surrounding it.
nounAn audition, trial, or selection test in which a performer's, athlete's, or applicant's abilities and suitability are assessed. It may also refer to the preliminary event or process in which participants are evaluated.
- An audition, trial, or selection test in which a performer's, athlete's, or applicant's abilities and suitability are assessed.
"Her tryout for the school play went better than she had expected."
"Her tryout for the school play went better than she had expected."
"The coach invited twenty players to the open tryout."
The regular plural is especially common when referring to an organized audition or selection event.
"The club holds open tryouts at the beginning of each season."
At a tryout, you put your best foot forward—then find out whether it gets you the part.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tryout come from?
Tryout is an English compound of try and out. By the nineteenth century, the closed form was being used for a test or trial, reflecting the idea of making an attempt and seeing how it turned out. It later became especially familiar in the language of team selection and auditions, while related forms such as trial, retrial, and retry belong to the same broad family of words associated with attempting or testing.
How tryout is actually used
As a noun, tryout is especially common in American English; British speakers often prefer trial, audition, or selection for the same idea. The related verb is normally written as the phrasal verb try out, rather than as the closed form tryout.