dress rehearsal

noun

1

: a full rehearsal (as of a play) in costume and with stage properties shortly before the first performance

2

: a practice exercise for something to come : dry run

Examples of dress rehearsal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If Correa is healthy enough to return, the Astros could put their experiment into effect then, playing him at second and Alvarez in left as a dress rehearsal for the postseason. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

But having said that, for the Dodgers, the regular season is basically a dress rehearsal for the playoffs. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Rae walked into the Academy of Music just in time for Saturday night's orchestra dress rehearsal and had costume and wig fittings during breaks. — ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026

Despite Campbell’s improvement, the Camels will serve as a final dress rehearsal ahead of SEC play while receiving a $525,000 game guarantee. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dress rehearsal

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

Kids Definition

dress rehearsal

noun

: a rehearsal of a play in costume and with stage properties shortly before the first performance