rehearsal

noun

re·​hears·​al ri-ˈhər-səl 

1

: something recounted or told again : recital

2

a

: a private performance or practice session preparatory to a public appearance

b

: a practice exercise : trial

Synonyms of rehearsal

• practice
• trial
• preview

Examples of rehearsal in a Sentence

She was 15 minutes late to rehearsal.

There are only three more rehearsals before the concert.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even in this second performance in a series of three, the piece sounded in need of more careful rehearsal. —Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026

At their first practice earlier this month, players warmed up with figuring out the intricacies of building a human pyramid, then went straight into dance rehearsal. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

Visitors may enjoy just watching the rehearsal or can join in. —Dawn Giangiulio, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

The feature-length documentary includes home videos of McCartney, wife Linda and their children on the family farm in Scotland, footage of early Wings rehearsals and archival photos taken by Linda McCartney – and footage of the other Beatles. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rehearsal

• dress rehearsal
• in rehearsal
• pre-rehearsal
• rehearsal dinner
• wedding rehearsal

Rhymes for rehearsal

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

Kids Definition

rehearsal

noun

re·​hears·​al ri-ˈhər-səl 

1

: a private performance or practice session in preparation for a public appearance

2

: a practice exercise : trial

Medical Definition

rehearsal

noun

re·​hears·​al ri-ˈhər-səl 

1

: a method for improving memory by mentally or verbally repeating over and over the information to be remembered

2

: the repeated mental review of a desired action or behavioral response

preoperative rehearsal of coping imagery to reduce anxiety