rehearsal
Americannoun
-
a session of exercise, drill, or practice, usually private, in preparation for a public performance, ceremony, etc..
a play rehearsal; a wedding rehearsal.
-
the act of rehearsing.
-
a repeating or relating.
a rehearsal of grievances.
noun
-
a session of practising a play, concert, speech etc, in preparation for public performance
-
the act of going through or recounting; recital
rehearsal of his own virtues was his usual occupation
-
being prepared for public performance
Other Word Forms
- prerehearsal adjective
Etymology
Origin of rehearsal
First recorded in 1350–1400, rehearsal is from the Middle English word rehersaille. See rehearse, -al 2
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."
Vocabulary lists containing rehearsal
Academy Awards, List 5
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!
Theater - Introductory
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!
Psychology
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
We met at a rehearsal studio in Midtown Manhattan last month during a period when Adams was, characteristically, juggling multiple projects.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
Back in the rehearsal room, Jonas focuses on laying out the structure before he stitches the pieces together into a cohesive trilogy.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026
The Nasa team said they were not going to attempt another so-called "wet dress rehearsal" once the rocket had been rolled out to the launchpad.
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
"These were all people I'd only heard on records and the idea you could just phone them up and they'd turn up in the rehearsal room?" he says.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
Having given his instructions, Welles hurried out of his hotel room to return to the Danton's Death rehearsal.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
