testing the waters

A form of test the waters — To explore or probe, as before making a commitment.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of test the waters
Cite this entry
APA

testing the waters. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/testing%20the%20waters

MLA

“testing the waters.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/testing%20the%20waters. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “testing the waters,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/testing%20the%20waters.

Source: testing the waters on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.