trial run

noun

1. a preliminary performance or test of something, as of the operation of a ship or the effectiveness of a play.

trial run

noun

1. a test drive in a vehicle to assess its performance
2. a test or rehearsal of something new or untried to assess its effectiveness

Word History and Origins

Origin of trial run¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

However, when asked the next day if it felt like a trial run for a potential postseason pitching plan, Roberts emphatically shook his head, calling it a “catastrophic scenario.”

From Los Angeles Times

The partial opening is a trial run, following the last year's opening of the main hall and stairway.

From BBC

In 2017, white supremacists were going to march through the town, a trial run for the deadly march that was to follow months later in Charlottesville.

From Salon

"This year was a trial run to see if I enjoyed living in America. It wasn't just about me, it was about both us," he said, referring to his girlfriend Shannon Hartley.

From BBC

That makes the tournament an important trial run.

From Los Angeles Times