rehearsal

noun

re·​hears·​al ri-ˈhər-səl 

1

: something recounted or told again : recital

2

a

: a private performance or practice session preparatory to a public appearance

b

: a practice exercise : trial

Synonyms

• dry run
• practice
• practise
• trial

Examples of rehearsal in a Sentence

She was 15 minutes late to rehearsal.

There are only three more rehearsals before the concert.

Recent Examples on the Web

The directors embedded themselves into the troupe’s daily routine, following the students from early morning classes through evening rehearsals that stretched well past midnight. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025

Both carved out hours of rehearsal and dance practice with regular training. —Emma Moon, Charlotte Observer, 5 June 2025

As recounted in the lawsuit, Madder’s days would typically begin at 7 a.m. with a few hours of school, followed by rehearsals that started at 10:30 a.m. and went into the late hours of the night. —Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025

Katy Perry, who was also one of Guerrero's clients, had to miss the funeral due to rehearsals for her tour, but the singer was in touch with his family. —Michelle Lee, People.com, 2 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rehearsal

• dress rehearsal
• in rehearsal
• pre-rehearsal
• rehearsal dinner
• wedding rehearsal

Rhymes for rehearsal

• demersal
• dispersal
• reversal
• transversal
• traversal
• bursal
• versal
• universal

Kids Definition

rehearsal

noun

re·​hears·​al ri-ˈhər-səl 

1

: a private performance or practice session in preparation for a public appearance

2

: a practice exercise : trial

Medical Definition

rehearsal

noun

re·​hears·​al ri-ˈhər-səl 

1

: a method for improving memory by mentally or verbally repeating over and over the information to be remembered

2

: the repeated mental review of a desired action or behavioral response

preoperative rehearsal of coping imagery to reduce anxiety