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

The ones that were paid for the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show earned $712 for show day and $45 per hour for rehearsals. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026

The company currently rents offices and rehearsal spaces in Redwood City, and scenery for its productions is built across in Newark. —Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026

During early rehearsals of a pivotal coatroom scene, Kaplow recalls flagging that Hawke was touching his scene partner too often. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026

Seeing a therapist or embracing therapeutic techniques, like a stress rehearsal, can keep fear from taking hold. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 5 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