dress rehearsal

noun

1. a rehearsal of a play or other performance in costume and with scenery, properties, and lights arranged and operated as for a performance: often the final rehearsal.

dress rehearsal

noun

1. the last complete rehearsal of a play or other work, using costumes, scenery, lighting, etc, as for the first night
2. any full-scale practice

Word History and Origins

Origin of dress rehearsal¹

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

All these issues Los Angeles is preparing to manage as the Olympics come to town in four years, with the World Series serving as a sort of mini dress rehearsal for the international spectacle to come.

From Los Angeles Times

The Lakers’ dress rehearsal, which ended with a 128-122 overtime win, was going to take a backseat to caution.

From Los Angeles Times

The Lakers will play Thursday in Phoenix in what could end up being close to a dress rehearsal for the regular season before winding their six-game schedule with one more game away from home — this one in San Francisco against the Warriors on Friday.

From Los Angeles Times

A lighting rig crashes to the ground during dress rehearsal.

From Los Angeles Times

“We almost didn’t get on the air, because dress rehearsal went so poorly,” associate producer Craig Kellem recalls in the book.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dry run
• rehearsal