experimentex‧per‧i‧ment2 /ɪkˈsperəment/ ●●○ verb [intransitive] 
Verb Table Examples
He experimented with lighter-than-air flight. The teacher provided some different materials and left the children to experiment.2to do a scientific test to find out if a particular idea is true or to obtain more informationexperiment with/on I would defend the right of scientists to experiment on animals.3to try doing something to find out what it feels like, for example having sex or using illegal drugsexperiment with She admitted she had experimented with cocaine.—experimenter noun [countable]
Verb TableVERB TABLE
experiment
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | experiment |
| he, she, it | experiments | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | experimented |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have experimented |
| he, she, it | has experimented | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had experimented |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will experiment |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have experimented |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am experimenting |
| he, she, it | is experimenting | |
| you, we, they | are experimenting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was experimenting |
| you, we, they | were experimenting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been experimenting |
| he, she, it | has been experimenting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been experimenting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be experimenting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been experimenting |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Thesaurus- Another possibility that I have experimented with once or twice is creating a monogram in flowers.
- At fifteen he began to experiment with various water turbines.
- Considerable work has also been undertaken to develop new blends using wool and experimenting with new man made fibres and dyestuffs.
- He also experimented with photography, and did significant early work with X-rays from 1896, and with radio waves from 1897.
- Ronald Reagan is the only modern presidential candidate to experiment with that idea, selecting Pennsylvania Sen.
- She had black kinky hair that she experimented with a lot.
- She was experimenting with a risotto when Ron Paget appeared at the door.
- Want to experiment with digital images?
Longman Language Activatorto use a person or animal in a test► experiment on
Collocations to use someone or something in scientific tests in order to find out how they are affected when you do something to them: · For some disease research, experimenting on animals is very important.· Some of the government labs had experimented on humans without their consent.
► test something on to do tests in which a group of people or animals use a product, take a drug etc in order to see what their reaction is: · This face cream has not been tested on animals.· They've just received permission to begin testing the new drug on humans.
► screen to test a person or a particular group of people to see if they have a particular illness or infection: · Because breast cancer is common in older women, we screen all women over 50.screen somebody/something for: · If you receive blood in the United Kingdom it will already have been screened for HIV.
► vivisection the practice of doing tests on live animals, for example in order to increase medical knowledge or to test new products: · I'm not against vivisection, but obviously we all want to avoid animals suffering unnecessarily.· Without vivisection many of the recent anti-cancer advances simply would not have been made.
to try something to see if it is good► try to do or use something for a short time in order to find out if it is successful, if you enjoy it, or if it is suitable: · I tried aerobics once, but I didn't really enjoy it.· Have you tried those new barbecue-flavoured crisps?· His mother tried threats, bribery -- everything, but Danny still refused to go to school.· There was no answer at his workplace, so Mandy tried his home number.try doing something: · I think you should try planning your essays in rough before you start writing.
► try out to use a new method, a new product, or that you have learned, in order to find out how good, how successful, or how suitable it is: try out something: · They sell paint in very small cans so you can try out the different colours at home.· Dietmar enjoyed trying out his English on American troops stationed in Berlin.try something out: · It was six months before she had a chance to try her songs out in front of a live audience.
► give something a try to try using or doing something, although you are not sure if it will succeed or if it is suitable or good: · I'm not sure that writing to complain will do much good, but we can give it a try.· Why don't we give that new wine bar a try?
► sample to try an activity to see if you enjoy it and if you would like to do it some more: · The hotel provides an excellent base from which visitors can sample the delights of scuba diving and waterskiing.
► have a go/bash British informal to do something for the first time to see whether you can do it, whether you enjoy it etc: · She's never tried skiing before, but she's willing to have a go.· The competition's open to anyone, so why not have a bash?have a go/bash at doing something: · Most kids get the opportunity to have a bash at writing poetry when they're at school.have a go on something (=try using a machine): · Can I have a go on your computer?
► try your hand at to try an activity that is new to you and that interests you, especially something that you need to learn special skills for: · He first tried his hand at motor racing in 1963, but without much success.try your hand at doing something: · After she lost her job, she thought she'd try her hand at writing a novel.
► experiment with to try something in order to see what it is like or what effect it has: · We're experimenting with a new filing system.· A new wave of rock bands experimented with different rhythms and beats.· A lot of fourteen and fifteen year olds experiment with drugs.
► trial and error the process of trying a lot of different ways of doing something, in order to find out which one works best: by trial and error (=using trial and error): · We found out by trial and error which plants could survive the dry conditions.a process of trial and error: · We learn new skills through a process of trial and error.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a bold experiment
Phrases· Making a film from the book was a bold experiment, and it worked.
► carry out an experiment· Many schools need better facilities for carrying out scientific experiments.
► carry out an experiment· Many schools need better facilities for carrying out scientific experiments.
► conduct a test/experiment· Investigators will be conducting tests to determine how the man died.
► devise an experiment/test· He devised a series of experiments to test his theory.
► experiment with drugs (=try taking drugs)· She admitted that she had experimented with drugs.
► laboratory tests/experiments/studies► perform an experiment/study etc· Part of the Chemistry exam involves performing an experiment.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► on· The group claims more than 150 monkeys like this have been experimented on at Oxford University.
NOUN► drug· This must be what people tell themselves when they start experimenting with drugs.· He began experimenting with drugs when he was 13.· He was just seventeen when he began experimenting with drugs, shooting heroin into his arm.· He began experimenting with different drugs and drank excessively.
► idea· The Weather Department is always experimenting with new ideas.· Ronald Reagan is the only modern presidential candidate to experiment with that idea, selecting Pennsylvania Sen.
► ways· Ideal conditions then saw steady progress and plenty of time to experiment with different ways of getting rid of straw.· He spread the word to his fellow monks, who experimented with other ways to consume the berries.· Take some time to read around the subject of stress, and to experiment with new ways of coping.
VERB► try· Record a backing tape with this chord and try experimenting with the mode.· He tried experimenting with various catalysts at these higher temperatures, again without results.· Use styling products that are designed to add volume and try experimenting with heated rollers to add body and waves.· But why not try experimenting with a contrasting thread?
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► run a check/test/experiment etc
Word family- I also ran a check on my own records, I should add.
- It had been switched off after two senior doctors had twice run tests on the patient before declaring him dead.
- There is no incentive to run tests and analyse the results.
- They ran tests and took x-rays, then I was called in to hear the results.
WORD FAMILYnounexperimentexperimentationadjectiveexperimentalverbexperimentadverbexperimentally
1to try using various ideas, methods etc to find out how good or effective they areexperiment with/on/in He experimented with lighter-than-air flight. The teacher provided some different materials and left the children to experiment.2to do a scientific test to find out if a particular idea is true or to obtain more informationexperiment with/on I would defend the right of scientists to experiment on animals.3to try doing something to find out what it feels like, for example having sex or using illegal drugsexperiment with She admitted she had experimented with cocaine.—experimenter noun [countable]