proving ground
noun
1
: a place for scientific experimentation or testing (as of vehicles or weapons)
2
: a place where something is developed or tried out
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web At the time, throngs of people had begun using the fourteeners as their own private proving ground for strange and unorthodox stunts. 
Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2022 The Players Championship, a tournament that Tiger's won twice could also be a good proving ground to remove the rust before the Masters in April. Adam Schupak, USA TODAY, 22 July 2022 The World Games is a proving ground and demonstration site for sports hoping to be featured in the Olympics or get back there. al, 19 July 2022 There's no doubt the DevOps has gone well beyond the proving ground and is now a core practice of successful organizations. Forbes, 1 July 2022 Starlink, a fledgling satellite internet network, is another brainchild of Elon Musk, and Ukraine has become its proving ground—a real-life test of new technology under the most extreme circumstances. Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 31 May 2022 More than ever, August is a proving ground for end-of-roster decisions rather than battles at the top of the depth chart. Michael Middlehurst-schwartz, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2022 Training camp is always a time of growth — a proving ground for young players, and an opportunity for veterans to build on the foundations already in place. Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 27 July 2022 The club's history in the competition is well-documented, and Cincinnati used the Open Cup as a proving ground that made a difference in its push for an MLS expansion bid. Pat Brennan, The Enquirer, 18 Apr. 2022 See More
Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2022 The Players Championship, a tournament that Tiger's won twice could also be a good proving ground to remove the rust before the Masters in April. Adam Schupak, USA TODAY, 22 July 2022 The World Games is a proving ground and demonstration site for sports hoping to be featured in the Olympics or get back there. al, 19 July 2022 There's no doubt the DevOps has gone well beyond the proving ground and is now a core practice of successful organizations. Forbes, 1 July 2022 Starlink, a fledgling satellite internet network, is another brainchild of Elon Musk, and Ukraine has become its proving ground—a real-life test of new technology under the most extreme circumstances. Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 31 May 2022 More than ever, August is a proving ground for end-of-roster decisions rather than battles at the top of the depth chart. Michael Middlehurst-schwartz, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2022 Training camp is always a time of growth — a proving ground for young players, and an opportunity for veterans to build on the foundations already in place. Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 27 July 2022 The club's history in the competition is well-documented, and Cincinnati used the Open Cup as a proving ground that made a difference in its push for an MLS expansion bid. Pat Brennan, The Enquirer, 18 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
circa 1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1