Definition

1. Noun:
   • An annoying, frustrating, or difficult event or person: An experience or person that tests one's patience, endurance, or tolerance.
   • A test of performance, qualities, or suitability: The process of trying something to evaluate its function, usefulness, or to gain experience with it.
   • (Law) The formal examination of evidence and legal arguments in a court of law: A judicial process to decide a person's guilt or innocence in a criminal case, or to settle a dispute in a civil case.
   • (Sports) A preliminary competition to select participants: A test or series of tests used to determine qualification for a team or a later stage of competition.
   • The act of testing something: A process of experimentation or assessment, often scientific or systematic.

Usage Examples

• As a difficult event/person:
  • Living in a noisy neighborhood can be a real trial.
  • The long delay at the airport was a trial for all the passengers.
• As a test or experiment:
  • The new software is available for a free 30-day trial.
  • They conducted a trial of the new teaching method in three schools.
• In a legal context:
  • The defendant chose a trial by jury.
  • The case never went to trial; it was settled out of court.
• In sports:
  • She earned her spot on the Olympic team after the final trials.
  • The swimming trials will be held next month.

Advanced Usage

• "On trial":
  • Being tried in a court of law.

    • The former CEO is currently on trial for fraud.
  • Being tested or used experimentally.

    • The new employee is on trial for the first three months.
• "Trial and error": A method of solving a problem by trying different possibilities until one succeeds.
  • I learned to cook through trial and error.
• "Trial run": A test of a new system, product, or procedure to see how it works.
  • We'll do a trial run of the presentation tomorrow.

Variants and Related Words

• Try (verb): To attempt or to test. (e.g., )
• Trier (noun): A person who makes an effort. (e.g., )
• Trialist (noun): A person participating in a sports trial. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• Test: A procedure intended to establish quality or performance.
• Ordeal: A painful or horrific experience.
• Hearing: A legal proceeding before a judge, often less formal than a trial.
• Audition: A trial performance by an actor, musician, etc.
• Experiment: A scientific procedure to make a discovery or test a hypothesis.

Related Phrases

• Bring to trial: To formally accuse someone and begin legal proceedings against them.
  • The prosecutor decided to bring the suspect to trial.
• Stand trial: To be the defendant in a legal trial.
  • He will stand trial next spring.

Related Idioms

• A trial of strength: A test of power or endurance between rivals.
  • The election became a trial of strength between the two main parties.
• Trial by fire: A difficult initiation or test of one's abilities under pressure.
  • Her first week as manager was a real trial by fire.

Noun

1. an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event
   • his mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him
   • life is full of tribulations
   • a visitation of the plague
2. (sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications
   • the trials for the semifinals began yesterday
3. (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law
   • he had a fair trial and the jury found him guilty
   • most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial
4. the act of undergoing testing
   • he survived the great test of battle
   • candidates must compete in a trial of skill
5. trying something to find out about it
   • a sample for ten days free trial
   • a trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain
6. the act of testing something
   • in the experimental trials the amount of carbon was measured separately
   • he called each flip of the coin a new trial