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test

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verb American English pronunciation: test /test/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theytest
he/she/ittests
present participletesting
past tensetested
past participletested
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [transitive] to find out how much someone knows, or how well they can do something by giving them a set of questions to answer or an activity to perform

    The aim of the examination is to test your writing skills.

    test someone on something:

    You won't be tested on anything that you haven't already studied.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of test
  2. 2
    [transitive] to examine someone's body to check that it is in good condition, or to find out if they have a particular illness

    Debbie has to have her eyes tested.

    test someone for something:

    She was tested for cancer.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of test
    1. a.
      [intransitive] to produce a particular result after taking a medical test
      test negative/positive (for something):

      He tested negative for HIV.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of test
  3. 3
    [transitive] to show how good or effective someone or something is by putting pressure on them

    Political loyalties could be severely tested by these demonstrations.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of test
  4. 4

    test

     or

    test out

     [transitive] to try using something such as a machine or a product to find out whether it works correctly or is satisfactory

    The new product was tested in 1998 and launched in 1999.

    The theory will be tested by computer simulation.

    test something on something:

    a skin-care system that isn't tested on animals

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of test
    See also  tried2
  5. 5
    [transitive] to examine something to find out if it is satisfactory, or if it has a particular quality

    Test the potatoes to see if they're cooked.

    test something for something:

    How do you test a melon for ripeness?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of test

phrase

phrasal verbs

This is the American English definition of test. View British English definition of test.

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