1
: the formal examination before a competent tribunal of the matter in issue in a civil or criminal cause in order to determine such issue
2
a
: the action or process of trying or putting to the proof : test
b
: a preliminary contest (as in a sport)
3
a
: a tryout or experiment to test quality, value, or usefulness compare clinical trial
b
: one of a number of repetitions of an experiment
4
: a test of faith, patience, or stamina through subjection to suffering or temptation
broadly
: a source of vexation or annoyance
5
: attempt
1
: of, relating to, or used in a trial
2
: made or done as a test or experiment
3
: used or tried out in a test or experiment
trialed or trialled; trialing or trialling; trials
: to test the functioning, value, or usefulness of (something)
In 2014, Germany trialed a copyright law granting publishers licensing fees for quoted content.—
Kim Willsher
Kim WillsherSo a raft of demonstration projects around the world have trialled "smart grids" that deal with electricity flowing in two directions—accommodating individuals selling power back to the utility company operation …—Caroline Williams
Caroline WilliamsExamples of trial in a Sentence
Noun
He did not get a fair trial.
He testified at the trial.
She is awaiting trial on charges of assault.
Early trials have shown that the treatment has some serious side effects.
Recovering from her injury was a real trial of strength.
I know I was a bit of a trial to my parents when I was a teenager.
Cold winters can be a trial for older people.
Adjective
trial use of the product
If you choose to use the software beyond the 30-day free trial period, you are required to pay for it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Laurie Winkless, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
The company is seeking monetary damages in an amount to be proved at trial.
—Jennifer Safstrom, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
Vitas Carosella, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Posner said the decision could cause even fewer women to report their assaults, at least in the short term, and might cause some prosecutors to bring even fewer cases to trial for fear of having a conviction overturned.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for trial
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Prior to the trial, public support for the system was low, at just 36 %.
—Laurie Winkless, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
The company is seeking monetary damages in an amount to be proved at trial.
—Jennifer Safstrom, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
By expanding the race calendar, E1’s executives hope to address all three: providing exciting and sustainable events in new locations around the world while allowing universities and private companies to study and trial new technologies that can be applied outside the race circuit to other sectors.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Posner said the decision could cause even fewer women to report their assaults, at least in the short term, and might cause some prosecutors to bring even fewer cases to trial for fear of having a conviction overturned.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for trial
Cite this Entry
“Trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trial. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trial
1 of 2 noun
tri·al
ˈtrī(-ə)l 
1
: the action or process of testing or trying
2
: the hearing and judgment of a case in court
3
: a test of faith, patience, or strength
4
: an experiment to test quality, value, or usefulness
trial
2 of 2 adjective1
: of, relating to, or used in a trial
2
: made or done as a test or experiment
a trial run
Medical Definition
trial
noun
tri·al
ˈtrī(-ə)l
1
: a tryout or experiment to test quality, value, or usefulness see clinical trial
2
: one of a number of repetitions of an experiment
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