stress test

noun

: an electrocardiographic test of heart function before, during, and after a controlled period of increasingly strenuous exercise (as on a treadmill)

Examples of stress test in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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For example, pregnancy can act as a natural stress test, revealing cardiovascular risks that may otherwise go unrecognized. — Sadiya S. Khan, Time, 26 Oct. 2026 The Organization’s Capacity To Execute Most leaders stress test demand and pricing. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Sean Gallup | Getty Images Nvidia's emergence as financier for the global AI buildout is facing its first major stress test as credit markets tighten for key partners. — Kif Leswing,isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026 Much of the recent alarm stems from AI labs’ own stress tests—and their, at times, tardy or less-than-fulsome disclosures—in which frontier models are pushed to deceive, break rules, or resist shutdowns. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stress test

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stress test was in 1955

Rhymes for stress test

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Browse Nearby Words

stress-strain curve
stress test
stress-verse
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Cite this Entry

“Stress test.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stress%20test. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

stress test

noun
: an electrocardiographic test of heart function before, during, and after a controlled period of increasingly strenuous exercise (as on a treadmill)
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