rehearsal

American  

[ri-hur-suhl] / rɪˈhɜr səl /

noun

• rehearsals
  plural

1. a session of exercise, drill, or practice, usually private, in preparation for a public performance, ceremony, etc..

   a play rehearsal; a wedding rehearsal.

2. the act of rehearsing.

3. a repeating or relating.

   a rehearsal of grievances.

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rehearsal British  

/ rɪˈhɜːsəl /

noun

1. a session of practising a play, concert, speech etc, in preparation for public performance

2. the act of going through or recounting; recital

   rehearsal of his own virtues was his usual occupation

3. being prepared for public performance

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prerehearsal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• rehearsals
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of rehearsal

First recorded in 1350–1400, rehearsal is from the Middle English word rehersaille. See rehearse, -al ²

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Explanation

A rehearsal is a practice, especially for a performance of some kind. You're likely to be nervous about your magic show if the rehearsal goes badly. When you practice for a play, read your speech in front of a mirror, or go through a dance performance before the big show, you're taking part in a rehearsal. Any kind of practice session can be called a rehearsal, like a wedding rehearsal or a musician's rehearsal. The Old French root of rehearsal is rehercier, "go over again." Originally, rehearsal just meant "to say something over again;" in the mid-1500s it began to also mean "practice a play."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rehearsal rehearsals

First displayed to the public during an "open rehearsal" four months after their arrival, the bison have so far only appeared in summer shows held in a small tent in a Moscow park.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Iñárritu reveals that all of this is rehearsal for a new production of the cult-classic play “Fossil Fools,” about a real-life climate disaster and its players who changed the world forever.

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026

But they can’t see what I remember when I hold it: cymbals timed correctly during the performance, a gratified nod from the conductor after weeks of botching it in rehearsal.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

And then they spent more than 90 minutes, including a dress rehearsal, exchanging quips and creating characters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

When he came to rehearsal that weekend, we hit it off right away.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

The facility also contains new studios for Apple Music's radio stations, which will move from their current home in King's Cross, and dedicated rooms for DJ mixes, writing camps and band rehearsals.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

Just two days before “WGIA” dropped and during rehearsals for her Coachella set, Slayyyter found out she had been cheated on by her then-boyfriend.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

She said she has made "some lovely friends" and they get to see each other at choir rehearsals, concerts and céilís.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

My dad drove me to rehearsals and slept in the car.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

His notes are given after rehearsals to the whole group, or in offhand and often indirect conversations.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

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Related Words

• drill
• practice session
• reading
• recital
• tryout
• workout

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