dry run

noun

1. a rehearsal or practice exercise.
2. Military. practice in firing arms without using live ammunition.

dry run

noun

1. military practice in weapon firing, a drill, or a manoeuvre without using live ammunition
2. informal.
   a trial or practice, esp in simulated conditions; rehearsal

Other Words From

• dry-run adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dry run¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Idioms and Phrases

A trial exercise or rehearsal, as in Regard this as a dry run for tonight's ceremony . This term, using dry in the sense of “unproductive,” was at first employed mainly in the military for simulated bombings in which no bombs were dropped. [c. 1940]

Example Sentences

The crew will go through a series of dry runs for what launch day will be like, as well as what to expect when they take Crew Dragon back down to Earth and splash down in the ocean.

From MIT Technology Review

Ahead of the launch, the government organized dry runs, put up billboards touting the vaccines and replaced phone ringing tones with a message urging people to get vaccinated.

From Time

Experts believe it might have been a dry run for 2022, when Bolsonaro might need similar tactics for his reelection campaign.

From Ozy

In order to train workers who are receiving the doses, Pfizer has conducted dry runs of shipping its vaccine to 10 locations.

From Time

It will also be a valuable dry run should a coronavirus shot arrive months later.

From Fortune

Think of PopVote as a dry run for free and fair elections in the future.

From The Daily Beast

On December 9, Loewen allegedly conducted a dry run, confirming that he could gain access to the tarmac.

From The Daily Beast

As a dry run for her trip to Europe, the Thailand visit was added to her program at the last minute.

From The Daily Beast

"It didn't seem so much like a dry run as a bid for publicity," Hoffman said.

From The Daily Beast

An earlier attempt to invade the Billings home—which may have been only a “dry run”—was made after dark, according to the suspect.

From The Daily Beast

It was an unpainted square cottage and stood bare on the sod at the edge of Dry Run ravine.

From Project Gutenberg

Would practice without actually firing the weapon be helpful—that is, a dry-run practice?

From Project Gutenberg

Could you give us an estimate of how much time they used in this dry-run practice, each?

From Project Gutenberg

The rain ceased, as usual, before we had gone far, and we had a clear dry run until luncheon.

From Project Gutenberg

Unfortunately, however, for the inhabitants the Dry Run has frequently become very wet.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dress rehearsal
• tryout