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Try out meaning

Try out means to use something to find out if it works or if you like it. It can also mean to compete for a place on a team or a part in a play (mainly US).

Check yourself: 3 questions

try something out

try out · tried · trying

B2Separable+1 more meaning

I want to try out the new pizza place tonight.

Try out meanings and examples

2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.

  1. 1use something to find out if it works or if you like it
  2. 2compete for a place on a team or a part in a play (mainly US)
  1. 1

    Use something to find out if it works or if you like it

    try something out

    B2Separable

    • I want to try out the new pizza place tonight.
    • Nice camera! Can I try it out? I might buy one.
    • We haven’t tried out the new recipe yet.
  2. 2

    Compete for a place on a team or a part in a play (mainly US)

    try out

    B2No object

    • My son is trying out for the basketball team.
    • She tried out for the school musical and got the main part.
    • Are you going to try out this year?
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Is try out separable?

Try out is separable: try out the bike, try the bike out. With a pronoun, it goes in the middle: try it out, not try out it.

For a team or a play, use try out for with no object: try out for the team. The noun is a tryout (US) or a trial (UK).

Verb tenses for try out

PresentI try out · she tries out
Pasttried out
Present perfecthave tried out
-ing formtrying out

Common mistakes with try out

What learners often say, and what to say instead.

  • Wrong: This app looks good. Let’s try out it.

    Right: This app looks good. Let’s try it out.

    A pronoun goes between try and out.

  • Wrong: Can I try out these shoes?

    Right: Can I try on these shoes?

    For clothes and shoes, use try on.

  • Wrong: He tried out to the football team.

    Right: He tried out for the football team.

    Use for before the team or the part.

Synonyms and opposites of try out

Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.

Similar

Opposite

  • stick tokeep using what you know and not try new things
  • avoidstay away from something on purpose

Try out quiz

Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.

  1. 1The shop lets you ___ the e-bike before you buy it.

  2. 2Choose the right sentence.

  3. 3“Mia is trying out for the volleyball team.” What is Mia doing?

More phrasal verbs with try

2 phrasal verbs start with try. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.

Test yourself on tryTake the full test

Try out FAQ

Questions people ask about try out.

Try out vs try on: what is the difference?

Try on is only for clothes and shoes. Try out is for testing other things, like a car, a gym or an idea.

What is a tryout?

In US English, a tryout is a test where people show their skills to join a sports team. In UK English, people say a trial.

Is try out the same as test?

Close. Try out is more relaxed and personal: try out a new café. Test sounds more careful and technical.

Use try out in real conversations

In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.

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