dress rehearsal

noun

Synonyms of dress rehearsalnext
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
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.
So there’s one more dress rehearsal before the B’s get to the best part of the season many thought would not come – the playoffs. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026 The teams on board have trained repeatedly for this moment, including 12 dress rehearsals called underway recovery tests, or URTs, which involve a pretend capsule called the Crew Module Test Article. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026 The most problematic propellant on both the Artemis I mission in 2022 and wet dress rehearsal earlier this year for Artemis II had been liquid hydrogen (LH2). Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026 That test, known as a wet dress rehearsal, was the second after an earlier demonstration in February uncovered liquid hydrogen leaks that forced an earlier delay. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dress rehearsal

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dress rehearsal was in 1812

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dress rehearsal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dress%20rehearsal. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

dress rehearsal

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

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