dry run

Definition of dry runnext
as in rehearsal
a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance we had time for just one dry run of the play before opening night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dry run As part of its dry run at Mars, the spacecraft will also practice hunting for faint circumplanetary rings of dust that might originate from the planet’s small moons and be backlit by the sun into clearer visibility. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 May 2026 Part of the current crew’s mission was to serve as a dry run and scouting party, examining geology and topography. Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026 Even the smallest components are painted or treated to ensure maximum longevity, while final assembly (carried out after at least one dry run) aims for millimeter-perfect panel gaps, impeccable door closure, and a rattle-free ride. Simon De Burton, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2026 So, consider today a dry run of what will ultimately occur when the war winds down. Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dry run
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dry run
Noun
  • During the rehearsal, Pritchard was sometimes brusque with Hamilton, correcting her form with his feet and insisting on certain steps.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026
  • As Mars’s gravity slung the spacecraft onto the next leg of its journey, mission scientists used the opportunity to put its multispectral imager through a full dress rehearsal.
    Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • Gray, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty last week to 55 charges, canceling a trial that was scheduled to begin in October at a courthouse in Columbia County.
    Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 28 July 2026
  • The father’s trial revealed the extent of Colt’s tumultuous childhood.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dry run.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dry%20run. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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