rehearsal

noun

re·​hears·​al ri-ˈhər-səl 

1

: something recounted or told again : recital

2

a

: a private performance or practice session preparatory to a public appearance

b

: a practice exercise : trial

Synonyms

• dry run
• practice
• practise
• trial

Examples of rehearsal in a Sentence

She was 15 minutes late to rehearsal.

There are only three more rehearsals before the concert.

Recent Examples on the Web

During a rehearsal break, Arnold motioned Savchenko over and asked him to explain a video, in which eagle-eyed fans noticed the background were the same in Savchenko and Nader’s latest posts. —Esther Kang, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

The drills, viewed as a possible rehearsal for invasion, raised alarms in Washington. —Billal Rahman, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

Once the residency wrapped, Spears was seemingly regaining her autonomy, but a reported dance rehearsal dispute with her father led to the cancellation of a follow-up Vegas residency, Britney: Domination. —James Dinh, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2024

Hutchins was killed, and Rust director Joel Souza was injured, on October 21, 2021 after the Colt .45 Baldwin was pointing at the cinematographer fired off a live round during a rehearsal at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, where the indie Western was filming. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rehearsal

• dress rehearsal
• in rehearsal
• pre-rehearsal
• rehearsal dinner
• wedding rehearsal

Kids Definition

rehearsal

noun

re·​hears·​al ri-ˈhər-səl 

1

: a private performance or practice session in preparation for a public appearance

2

: a practice exercise : trial

Medical Definition

rehearsal

noun

re·​hears·​al ri-ˈhər-səl 

1

: a method for improving memory by mentally or verbally repeating over and over the information to be remembered

2

: the repeated mental review of a desired action or behavioral response

preoperative rehearsal of coping imagery to reduce anxiety