test

"Test" is a very common and useful English word. It works as both a noun and a verb, and it has a handful of closely related but distinct meanings you will encounter all the time — in school, at work, and in everyday life.

1nounexam or quiz

A set of questions or tasks designed to measure what someone knows or can do. Think of it as a way to check your knowledge — your teacher gives you a test to see how much you have learned.

education, everyday language · Modern, widely used

I studied all night because I had a math test in the morning.

She passed her driving test on the first try.

The teacher handed out the test papers at the start of class.

medicine, science · Modern, widely used

The water sample was sent to the lab for a quality test.

A pregnancy test can give you a result in just a few minutes.

When you test something, you try it out or examine it carefully to see if it works, if it is safe, or if it meets a standard. Imagine checking a chair before you sit on it — that is a kind of testing.

everyday language, science, technology · Modern, widely used

Can you test the microphone to make sure it is working?

When a situation or person tests you, it pushes you to your limits — it challenges how patient, strong, or capable you are. It is not a written exam; it is life putting pressure on you.

everyday language · Modern, widely used · figurative