dress rehearsal

American  

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.

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dress rehearsal British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of dress rehearsal

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

Nasa set the launch date following a successful "wet dress rehearsal" - a critical pre-launch test where the rocket is filled with fuel and taken through the countdown sequence.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

Opener Phil Salt, the world's second-ranked T20I batter, struck a fluent 46 off 35 balls to help England take a 1-0 lead in the three match series, a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

Over the next several days, engineers and technicians will focus on readying Artemis II for a wet dress rehearsal.

From Science Daily • Jan. 19, 2026

Recognized for their hypnotic choreography, playful lyricism and fervent energy, the “Gnarly” singers went all out for dress rehearsal — involving an army of backup dancers and repeated blasts of confetti.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

During dress rehearsal, all the dancers would be wearing their costumes and makeup.

From "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #4" by Carolyn Keene

Related Words

• dry run
• rehearsal