rehearsal
Americannoun
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a session of exercise, drill, or practice, usually private, in preparation for a public performance, ceremony, etc..
a play rehearsal; a wedding rehearsal.
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the act of rehearsing.
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a repeating or relating.
a rehearsal of grievances.
noun
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a session of practising a play, concert, speech etc, in preparation for public performance
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the act of going through or recounting; recital
rehearsal of his own virtues was his usual occupation
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being prepared for public performance
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of rehearsal
First recorded in 1350–1400, rehearsal is from the Middle English word rehersaille. See rehearse, -al 2
Explanation
A rehearsal is a practice, especially for a performance of some kind. You're likely to be nervous about your magic show if the rehearsal goes badly. When you practice for a play, read your speech in front of a mirror, or go through a dance performance before the big show, you're taking part in a rehearsal. Any kind of practice session can be called a rehearsal, like a wedding rehearsal or a musician's rehearsal. The Old French root of rehearsal is rehercier, "go over again." Originally, rehearsal just meant "to say something over again;" in the mid-1500s it began to also mean "practice a play."
Vocabulary lists containing rehearsal
Academy Awards, List 5
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Theater - Introductory
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Psychology
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rehearsal spaces behind the stage were converted into rooms for drinking tea and playing cards.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
Yet from that show, Ortiz and Tam connected with like-minded musicians, such as Downey and Shani Gaines-Bernard, the niece of disco legend Donna Summer, to create the Rehearsal.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2025
I've seen Nathan Fielder's "The Rehearsal," and I saw "Nathan For You," and obviously all of Sacha Baron Cohen's stuff, but that's about it.
From Salon • Jun. 13, 2023
Seattle All-City Band Director Marcus Pimpleton, who is Black, led a panel discussion, “A Courageous Conversation About Race in the Rehearsal Room,” during last month’s event in Bellevue.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 19, 2023
Rehearsal ends, but Abby and I dangle our feet off the edge of one of the platforms, watching Ms. Albright and Cal make notes in the big blue binder.
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
