test the waters

phrase

variants or less commonly test the water
: to make a preliminary test or survey (as of reaction or interest) before embarking on a course of action

Examples of test the waters in a Sentence

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On a senior-laden team with high expectations last season, there was no time for a sophomore like him to dip his feet into the pool to test the water at the varsity level. — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Projects like Beautiful Thugger Girls saw Thug test the waters of R&B, while blending a mix of country and hip-hop. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026 One of the easiest ways to test the waters with white after Labor Day? — Kate Boswell, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026 After years of testing the waters, Christie’s has decided that pop culture is ready for the big leagues. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for test the waters

Rhymes for test the waters

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Browse Nearby Words

test solution
test the waters
test-tube
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Cite this Entry

“Test the waters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/test%20the%20waters. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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