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
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As the name suggests, the dress rehearsal checks all procedures and systems up to just before launch. Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2026 Wet dress rehearsals ahead Standing at 322-feet tall, the SLS ‒ built by Boeing and Northrop Grumman ‒ is one of the largest active rockets in the world. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026 In the weeks ahead, attention will shift to final integrated testing, including wet dress rehearsals that validate fueling procedures and countdown operations. Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026 The wet dress rehearsal will allow mission managers to evaluate how the rocket’s systems work together in real-world environments and will give engineers the opportunity to check for fuel leaks or other technical issues. Denise Chow, NBC news, 17 Jan. 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 23 Jan. 2026.

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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