Showing results for rehearse. Search instead for misrehearse.

Synonyms

rehearse

American

[ri-hurs] / rɪˈhɜrs /

verb (used with object)

to practice (a musical composition, a play, a speech, etc.) in private prior to a public presentation.
to drill or train (an actor, musician, etc.) by rehearsal, as for some performance or part.
to relate the facts or particulars of; recount.

Synonyms:

recapitulate, narrate, portray, describe, delineate

verb (used without object)

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

rehearse British

/ rɪˈhɜːs /

verb

to practise (a play, concert, etc), in preparation for public performance
(tr) to run through; recount; recite

the official rehearsed the grievances of the committee
(tr) to train or drill (a person or animal) for the public performance of a part in a play, show, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See relate.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of rehearse

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”); see re-, hearse

Explanation

When you rehearse, you practice something. You and your cast mates will need to rehearse for several weeks before you'll be ready to perform the entire two hours and forty-five minutes of the musical "Hamilton." A new teacher might rehearse before his first day teaching math to ninth graders, and you'll want to rehearse before you sing the national anthem on the field before a baseball game begins. If you're nervous about something, like asking someone to the prom, you might rehearse it in your mind. At the root of rehearse is the Old French word rehercier, which means both "go over again," and "rake and turn over the soil."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing rehearse

Speaking and Listening - Introductory

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Speaking and Listening - Middle School

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

rehearse rehearses rehearsed rehearsing

But there is an equally plausible danger: the ritual may simply rehearse the behaviour it is supposed to replace.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

All we did was rehearse every now and then.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

She noted that associates used to rehearse customer-advising scenarios improv-style with colleagues before the store opened.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

At one of Snabbit's training hubs in the southern tech hub of Bengaluru, workers rehearse tasks such as chopping vegetables against the clock.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

“We ought to rehearse tonight. Come here, Amy, and do the fainting scene, for you are as stiff as a poker in that.”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

The Inglewood High School marching band rehearses for an upcoming performance under the direction of teacher Joseph Jauregui.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2024

Now, this documentary is taking viewers behind the scenes with the playwright Jeremy O. Harris as he workshops and rehearses, before ultimately bringing the play to the big stage.

From New York Times ● Jun. 17, 2024

Take an American ballerina, clad in shimmering white, caught in a blur of revolving motion as she rehearses in China.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 4, 2023

It rehearses in the school hall and involves students in its productions and performances.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2023

Ralph answered in the cautious voice of one who rehearses a theorem.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

The group rehearsed “pretty much every night,” performed frequently and promoted itself aggressively.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

The airline said the flights were performed with the "approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits for the flypast" and were conducted by a "highly experienced crew".

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

Then, against advice, he presented a meticulously crafted and rehearsed speech at his sentencing hearing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

He had an elaborate pitch, which he painstakingly rehearsed and refined.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

And she never got to say, "Sure! We were hoping you'd come over," like she'd rehearsed in her head.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies

The scandal blew up while Lisa was rehearsing for a pivotal performance at the Coachella Festival in 2025.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Troops in flashy uniforms have been rehearsing on the White House driveway this week ahead of the welcome ceremony.

From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026

She is currently rehearsing for her role as Clara in “The Nutcracker” in November, a part she has played for 45 years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

One performer described the worst possible outcome: working all week, staying up all night, writing sketches, rehearsing constantly, and then discovering on Saturday night that you don’t even need hair and makeup.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

Then she nods real fast, like she’s been rehearsing this.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023