test
noun
the means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined; a means of trial.
Trivia Time
Test comes from a Latin word referring to what?
test
1 American
[test]
/ tɛst /
noun
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the means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined; a means of trial.
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the trial of the quality of something.
to put to the test.
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a particular process or method for trying or assessing.
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a set of questions, problems, or the like, used as a means of evaluating the abilities, aptitudes, skills, or performance of an individual or group; examination.
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Psychology. a set of standardized questions, problems, or tasks designed to elicit responses for use in measuring the traits, capacities, or achievements of an individual.
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Chemistry.
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the process of identifying or detecting the presence of a constituent of a substance, or of determining the nature of a substance, commonly by the addition of a reagent.
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the reagent used.
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an indication or evidence of the presence of a constituent, or of the nature of a substance, obtained by such means.
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an oath or other confirmation of one's loyalty, religious beliefs, etc.
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British. a cupel for refining or assaying metals.
verb (used with object)
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tests,
present (3rd person singular)
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tested,
past participle, past
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testing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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tests,
present (3rd person singular)
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tested,
past participle, past
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testing
present participle
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to undergo a test or trial; try out.
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to perform on a test.
People test better in a relaxed environment.
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to conduct a test.
to test for diabetes.
test
2
American
[test]
/ tɛst /
noun
-
Zoology. the hard, protective shell or covering of certain invertebrates, as echinoderms or tunicates.
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Botany. testa.
test.
3
American
abbreviation
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testator.
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testimony.
Test.
4
American
abbreviation
test
1
British
/ tɛst /
verb
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to ascertain (the worth, capability, or endurance) of (a person or thing) by subjection to certain examinations; try
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(often foll by for) to carry out an examination on (a substance, material, or system) by applying some chemical or physical procedure designed to indicate the presence of a substance or the possession of a property
to test food for arsenic
to test for magnetization
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(intr) to achieve a specified result in a test
a quarter of the patients at the clinic tested positive for the AIDS virus
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(tr) to put under severe strain
the long delay tested my patience
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to make an exploratory or initial approach; sound out
noun
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a method, practice, or examination designed to test a person or thing
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a series of questions or problems designed to test a specific skill or knowledge
an intelligence test
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a standard of judgment; criterion
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a chemical reaction or physical procedure for testing a substance, material, etc
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a chemical reagent used in such a procedure
litmus is a test for acids
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the result of the procedure or the evidence gained from it
the test for alcohol was positive
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sport See test match
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archaic a declaration or confirmation of truth, loyalty, etc; oath
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(modifier) performed as a test
test drive
test flight
test
2
British
/ tɛst /
noun
-
the hard or tough outer covering of certain invertebrates and tunicates
-
a variant of testa
test
Idioms
Usage
What is a basic definition of test? A test is a series of questions or problems that is used to determine a person’s ability or understanding of something. More generally, test refers to a trial, experiment, or examination that is designed to determine the qualities or characteristics of someone or something. As a verb, test means to assess someone’s knowledge or abilities, to put someone or something through a trial, or to try something out. The word test has several other senses as a noun and a verb. A test is a collection of questions, tasks, or problems that are designed to see if a person understands a subject or to measure their ability to do something. Real-life examples: Most schooling involves taking tests in many subjects, such as math and history. Lawyers must do well on a particularly difficult test, known as the bar examination, to be able to practice law. Used in a sentence: I studied all night for my chemistry test. Test can also be used in this context as a verb meaning to administer such a test. Real-life examples: Teachers test their students’ knowledge by giving them quizzes and tests. Used in a sentence: Yes, you will be tested on this. As a noun, test also refers to an experiment or trial that is designed to discover information about something. Real-life examples: Scientists and researchers create many tests (often called experiments) to learn new information or to see if a hypothesis is correct. A test of a chemical might involve how it reacts with other chemicals. Companies and businesses use safety tests to see if their products are safe for customers. A pregnancy test analyzes body fluids for hormones to determine whether someone is pregnant. Used in a sentence: The scientists used several different tests to determine how much pollution was in the drinking water. Related to this sense, test can mean to put something through a trial or test or to try it. Real-life examples: People often test products before purchasing them. When buying a car, you can test how it drives by taking it on a test drive. Testing a person often involves making them endure some kind of trial. Used in a sentence: The boss is just testing you because you’re new—he wants to see if you can handle the pressure.
Synonym Usage
See trial.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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testabilitynoun
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nontestableadjective
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nontestingadjective
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self-testingadjective
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testableadjective
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testingadjective
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untestableadjective
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untestedadjective
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well-testedadjective
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testinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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testsimple
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testssimple
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have testedperfect
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has testedperfect
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am testingprogressive
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are testingprogressive
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is testingprogressive
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have been testingperfect progressive
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has been testingperfect progressive
Past
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testedsimple
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had testedperfect
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was testingprogressive
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were testingprogressive
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had been testingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of test1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: test(e), tast(e) “crucible; cupel,” from Old French “test, teste,” Latin testū, testum “earthenware pot”; akin to test 2
Origin of test2
First recorded in 1840–45; from Latin testa “tile, shell, covering”; akin to test 1
Explanation
If your boss tells you not to test her patience, she means don't push her today, because she might just snap. Surely you're familiar with vocabulary tests? In this case, someone is giving you difficult questions to see how much you know. Test more generally means "trial." If you test a soap on your skin, you use it on one small patch, to see if you'll have an allergic reaction. A drug test looks for the presence of drugs in your system. A difficult time in life is sometimes called "a test," because it's testing your strength to persevere.
Vocabulary lists containing test
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Ingenious Lexicon of Invention
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"Hitching a Ride"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He’s going off to college to explore and test himself on and off the field.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
Finally, whereas the column focuses on threats to democracy and turnout as the decisive test for Newsom, several reports highlight more personal and practical hurdles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
Lawyers for the baby's family said the test results "provided the clearest opportunity to detect and stop Letby" and were "a bright line within the chronology after which no babies should have been harmed".
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
The quick, relatively inexpensive CT test measures calcium buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026
We had our first test of the system on July 1.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
"We felt that airflow increase on the 4850 Level during that test. That's what made the correlation and triggered everything," Connot said.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 6, 2026
“Prostate cancer screenings. They’ve learned there is a simple, finger-free blood test. Roughly one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. And I was one of them.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
"I've already taken this test. I contacted World Boxing, I sent them my medical records, my hormone tests, everything. But I haven't had any response. I'm not hiding, I'm not refusing the tests."
From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026
Another instructor, Jag Singh, told us: "One of my students just failed and he was in tears because his parents are going to have to pay over £500 for another test. It's a vicious cycle."
From BBC ● Dec. 6, 2025
“We’re lucky they let her postpone the test. She’ll reschedule as soon as she’s ready.”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
"We've got loads of time, there's about 12 weeks until the first Test. We'll see how the next little bit pans out."
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2025
“It’s really good for a young guy to put in a performance that wins England a Test. He was pretty emotional at the end. It’s a pretty cool day for him.”
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2024
“Brisbane is something we can look at. We came back and we won the Test. If we can replicate that, all of us will be really happy,” added Da Silva.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2024
Baum, meanwhile, insists that England must now press their advantage home and win the fifth Test. "2-2 would be a hollow outcome," he says.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 29, 2010
The citations may be seen in Davidson's Introduct. to New Test., vol.
From Companion to the Bible by E. P. (Elijah Porter) Barrows
The tests are designed by the same people.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
The five infants appeared to be of Sumatran origin, the ministry said, and DNA tests will be used to confirm where they were from.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
The setting not only tests the show’s main romance, it also provides Mare with breathing room and an opportunity to explore her professional ambitions more seriously.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Manchester United will experience far stiffer tests of their Champions League credentials than Sabah FK gave them at Old Trafford.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
When he asked William to reenlist and join his team, William eagerly signed up for the required tests.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
He took my blood and sent it off to be tested for testosterone as well as a bunch of other things, including thyroid and iron levels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
They have not been tested in humans through clinical trials and have not been approved by the FDA as safe or effective for human use.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
They recommend waiting until cats are tested for diseases and confirmed to be healthy before introducing them to other pets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
The snoring tested the relationship, with Meg explaining: "I always said if we lived together we'd have to have a spare bedroom for the nights of truly unbearable snoring."
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
“The citizenship test is really tough. Even high school students don’t know all the facts we’re tested on.”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
OpenAI had revealed that during testing, the AI models broke out of their confined environment, connected to the internet and infiltrated Hugging Face, a site developers use to store and share code.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
"We're testing a clear, patient-centered strategy to disrupt IL1RAP using a treatment plan that can be delivered in the clinic."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026
The firm said its jack mackerel products were "clearly identified" and had been introduced following extensive product and consumer testing, describing it as having a "milder flavour and meatier texture".
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
As backlash swells against artificial-intelligence companies, the CEO of OpenAI says he won’t be testing the public markets this year.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 12, 2026
Kennedy had ordered the resumption of underground testing of H-bombs in September, and he wanted a better understanding of the dangers of fallout.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
