rehearse

verb

re·​hearse ri-ˈhərs 

rehearsed; rehearsing

transitive verb

1

a

: to say again : repeat

b

: to recite aloud in a formal manner

2

: to present an account of : relate

rehearse a familiar story

3

: to recount in order : enumerate

rehearsed their demands

4

a

: to give a rehearsal of

b

: to train or make proficient by rehearsal

5

: to perform or practice as if in a rehearsal

intransitive verb

: to engage in a rehearsal

rehearser noun

Synonyms

• exercise
• practice
• practise
• run over

Examples of rehearse in a Sentence

The orchestra is rehearsing a piece by Schumann.

The band stayed up late rehearsing for the big show.

We were allowed to watch the director rehearse the dancers.

lawyers rehearsing their closing arguments

He rehearsed his dance moves in front of the mirror.

Recent Examples on the Web

Last month, the couple rehearsed together in casual clothes. —Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2024

In addition, the U.S. has rehearsed offensive and defensive measures to ensure U.S. troops working at the pier and those on the floating platform several miles off shore are all protected. —Lolita C. Baldor, arkansasonline.com, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rehersen, from Anglo-French rehercer, from re- + hercer to harrow, from herce harrow — more at hearse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

rehearse

verb

re·​hearse ri-ˈhərs 

rehearsed; rehearsing

1

a

: to say again : repeat

b

: to recount in order : enumerate

they rehearsed their complaints in a letter

2

a

: to practice (a play or scene) for public performance

b

: to train or instruct (as actors) by rehearsal

3

: to engage in a rehearsal

rehearser noun

Etymology

Middle English rehersen "to say again, repeat," from early French rehercier "to go over again and again," literally, "to harrow again," from re- "again" and hercier "to harrow," from herce "a harrow"

Word Origin

In the Middle Ages, French farmers used a tool they called a herce. This was a triangular wooden frame with sturdy pegs or teeth on one side. It was pulled over plowed farmland to break up the soil in order to make it smooth for planting. The early French verb used to describe this action was hercier, which meant "to harrow." In most cases the process had to be repeated over and over, so the word rehercier was formed, meaning "to harrow again" or "reharrow." In time, rehercier came to be used with more general meanings like "to go over something again (and again)," as in repeating a school lesson or a story. The word came into Middle English as rehersen, meaning "to say again, repeat." Through the years the English word, now spelled rehearse, has picked up new meanings. Perhaps the most familiar one now is "to go through (a scene or play) over and over for practice until it is ready for performance."