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

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Etymology

Origin of rehearsal

First recorded in 1350–1400, rehearsal is from the Middle English word rehersaille. See rehearse, -al ²

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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

First displayed to the public during an "open rehearsal" four months after their arrival, the bison have so far only appeared in summer shows held in a small tent in a Moscow park.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Unfortunately for us, the film’s audience, it doesn’t make watching the rest of the rehearsal any more enjoyable.

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026

But they can’t see what I remember when I hold it: cymbals timed correctly during the performance, a gratified nod from the conductor after weeks of botching it in rehearsal.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

The footage shows Liam stalking into a rehearsal studio, truculence personified.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

Barack managed to slip into a back row and watch the dress rehearsal before leaving for Connecticut.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

The clips, which emerged last year, showed the band covering US rap songs during rehearsals.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

“Anytime I’m resting in rehearsals, he’s practicing… What you see on Tuesdays, that is his best…”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026

When Frech needs to recover from his “Dancing With the Stars” rehearsals, the Paralympic gold medalist can retreat to his family’s home in one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive enclaves.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

Instead, we cut to rehearsals for the comeback tour, with a caption informing us the brothers "didn't speak for 15 years", and an implication that all the wounds have been miraculously healed.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

"We're starting rehearsals right now. If you're in, you stay," Ms. Barry says.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

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Related Words

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

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