rehearse

[ri-hurs]

verb (used with object)

rehearsed, rehearsing 

1. to practice (a musical composition, a play, a speech, etc.) in private prior to a public presentation.

2. to drill or train (an actor, musician, etc.) by rehearsal, as for some performance or part.

3. to relate the facts or particulars of; recount.

   Synonyms: recapitulate, narrate, portray, describe, delineate

verb (used without object)

rehearsed, rehearsing 

1. to rehearse a play, part, etc.; participate in a rehearsal.

rehearse

/ rɪˈhɜːs /

verb

1. to practise (a play, concert, etc), in preparation for public performance

2. (tr) to run through; recount; recite

   the official rehearsed the grievances of the committee

3. (tr) to train or drill (a person or animal) for the public performance of a part in a play, show, etc

Other Word Forms

• rehearsable adjective
• rehearser noun
• unrehearsable adjective
• unrehearsed adjective
• unrehearsing adjective
• well-rehearsed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rehearse¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English rehersen, rehercen, from Middle French rehercier “to repeat,” equivalent to re- “again, over and over” + hercier “to strike, harrow” (derivative of herce, herse “a harrow”); re-, hearse

Word History and Origins

Origin of rehearse¹

C16: from Anglo-Norman rehearser , from Old French rehercier to harrow a second time, from _re- + herce harrow

Synonym Study

See relate.

Example Sentences

He fell behind in the count 0-2 against Toronto reliever Louis Varland, as the crowd of 47,399 at Yankee Stadium began mentally rehearsing the chorus of boos that was one strike away.

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But she postponed the gigs until September next year, explaining she wouldn't have enough time to rehearse for them.

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Parton said the health setbacks would leave her without enough time to rehearse and stage the production as planned.

Read more on Salon

Esparza said those Headhunters never performed much publicly because of a copyright dispute over the name, but he remembered rehearsing with the original members “hundreds” of times.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She's looking on proudly as her son rehearses.

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Related Words

• go over 
• go through 
• hone 
• recite 
• reenact www.thesaurus.com
• warm up 
• work out