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
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The postponement could also be due to an issue discovered during Friday's wet dress rehearsal, after which the Starship was destacked. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Also a public dress rehearsal will take place on July 22. Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 27 June 2025 Everyone feels a bit different about the process of the dress rehearsal. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 16 June 2025 But the horn was heard in full effect during dress rehearsals ahead of the 8 p.m. puck drop. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dress rehearsal

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dress rehearsal was in 1828

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Cite this Entry

“Dress rehearsal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dress%20rehearsal. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

dress rehearsal

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

More from Merriam-Webster on dress rehearsal

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