dress rehearsal

noun

1. a rehearsal of a play or other performance in costume and with scenery, properties, and lights arranged and operated as for a performance: often the final rehearsal.

dress rehearsal

noun

1. the last complete rehearsal of a play or other work, using costumes, scenery, lighting, etc, as for the first night

2. any full-scale practice

Word History and Origins

Origin of dress rehearsal¹

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

“And then Friday, yes, the plan is to do another dress rehearsal and likely play most of our guys,” Redick said before the game.

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Sandra Oh's entrance on stage -- in a purple gown, her hair adorned with feathers, and waving a fan -- drew cheers and excited shouts from New York schoolchildren invited to the dress rehearsal.

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Mitchell may still have decisions to make over his starting XV, with some big names missing and this match serving as a final audition for some and a dress rehearsal for others.

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The newly expanded Club World Cup is being treated as a dress rehearsal for the international World Cup next summer, which will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

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Yes, the Savannah Bananas’ brand of baseball is far too outlandish ever to be compared to the major leagues — from flaming baseballs, rump-shaking umps and dress rehearsals.

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Related Words

• dry run 
• rehearsal