rehearsal

American  

[ri-hur-suhl] / rɪˈhɜr səl /

noun

• rehearsals
  plural

1. a session of exercise, drill, or practice, usually private, in preparation for a public performance, ceremony, etc..

   a play rehearsal; a wedding rehearsal.

2. the act of rehearsing.

3. a repeating or relating.

   a rehearsal of grievances.

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rehearsal British  

/ rɪˈhɜːsəl /

noun

1. a session of practising a play, concert, speech etc, in preparation for public performance

2. the act of going through or recounting; recital

   rehearsal of his own virtues was his usual occupation

3. being prepared for public performance

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prerehearsal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• rehearsals
  plural

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rehearsal rehearsals

In another change, the organisers also announced that competitors must be at at least 18, up from 16, on the day of their first rehearsal.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

Degas is said to have preferred watching ballerinas in the rehearsal studio as opposed to performing on stage, as he could then witness the “little events that occurred in the background.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

Swift’s team deployed facial recognition tracking on concertgoers but turned it off for some of the wealthiest and most renowned names at her Madison Square Garden rehearsal dinner.

From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026

The demanding schedule has meant long rehearsal days and little sleep, but Douglas says it's worth it.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Fand calls up to me, wanting to know why I didn’t attend the rehearsal for the mock war.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Pyongyang has always been angered by the drills, decrying them as dress rehearsals for an invasion.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

Saturday’s rehearsals took place under a scorching sun.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

When the younger Sousa became its conductor at age 25, he recruited woodwinds to balance the blaring brass instruments, expanded its repertoire by transcribing symphonic works, and led meticulous rehearsals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

The 29-year-old, who first found fame on Love Island in 2018, fractured her ankle when she "landed funny" in rehearsals with dance partner Nikita Kuzmin before the competitive episodes began last September.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

I want to keep my lives separate—Virginia the poor indigena in Yana Urku, Virginia the rich indigena at queen rehearsals; Virginia the dishwasher at the hotel, Virginia the star student at school.

From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau

Related Words

• drill
• practice session
• reading
• recital
• tryout
• workout