dress rehearsal

noun

1
: a full rehearsal (as of a play) in costume and with stage properties shortly before the first performance
2
: a practice exercise for something to come : dry run

Examples of dress rehearsal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Jay, a pastor and author, told PEOPLE at an Oct. 2 dress rehearsal in New York City before Tammy Faye’s Oct. 19 Broadway debut. Brian Anthony Hernandez, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024 At one point in the dress rehearsal in the movie, he’s seen as stumbling through his lines, not in command of the material. Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024 There are times when the device of a rehearsal, and then ultimately, a final dress rehearsal, comes off as distracting. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024 Usually during dress rehearsal, the stuff that Lorne really believes in is put at the top of the show, and Mary was at the bottom. Keaton Bell, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dress rehearsal 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dress rehearsal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dress rehearsal was in 1828

Dictionary Entries Near dress rehearsal

Cite this Entry

“Dress rehearsal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dress%20rehearsal. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dress rehearsal

noun
: a rehearsal of a play in costume and with stage properties shortly before the first performance

More from Merriam-Webster on dress rehearsal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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