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.
In that auditorium earlier this week, students dressed as Greek tourists sat in the front row, sharing a box of McDonald’s fries before a dress rehearsal. Melanie Asmar, Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2026 Wandering around the park, dry leaves crunching underfoot, feels like crashing a dress rehearsal, or an extremely chill treeworker renegade. Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026 The helium issue was uncovered after an hourslong fueling test and launch-day walkthrough, known as a wet dress rehearsal. Denise Chow, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026 The flight originally was planned for early February, but it was delayed after hydrogen fuel leaks were detected during a dress rehearsal countdown. William Harwood, CBS News, 19 Mar. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Dress rehearsal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dress%20rehearsal. Accessed 27 Mar. 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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