rehearse

verb re·hearse \ ri-ˈhərs \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of rehearse

rehearsed; rehearsing

transitive verb

1 a : to say again : repeat

b : to recite aloud in a formal manner

2 : to present an account of : relate

rehearse a familiar story

3 : to recount in order : enumerate

rehearsed their demands

4 a : to give a rehearsal of

b : to train or make proficient by rehearsal

5 : to perform or practice as if in a rehearsal

intransitive verb

: to engage in a rehearsal

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rehearser

noun

See rehearse defined for English-language learners

See rehearse defined for kids

Examples of rehearse in a Sentence

The orchestra is rehearsing a piece by Schumann.
The band stayed up late rehearsing for the big show.
We were allowed to watch the director rehearse the dancers.
lawyers rehearsing their closing arguments
He rehearsed his dance moves in front of the mirror.

Recent Examples of rehearse from the Web

Campers will sing, dance, act and rehearse for a full-scale performance on stage with professional lights and sound, according to a news release.

— pioneer press, chicagotribune.com, "Escape room challenge will be part of Guerin College Prep's open house," 13 Apr. 2018
Been spending my days rehearsing with these overwhelmingly talented people.

— nicole sands, PEOPLE.com, "Countdown to Taylor Swift's Reputation Tour! Meet All of Her Backup Dancers," 12 Apr. 2018
The Anchorage Symphony Orchestra rehearses for their 70th season opening night performance, Wednesday, September 23, 2015 in the Atwood Concert Hall the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Coming up: Candide, a ‘Thrift Shop’ dance party and a contest of one-act plays," 6 Apr. 2018
The young woman have been rehearsing for the pageant for eight weeks, according to Gruber.

— emily sorensen, Pomerado News, "Miss Poway pageant is Saturday at PCPA," 21 Mar. 2018
Tammi Carlson, director of the MVCC Flute Choir, said the group is a blend of college students and community members who currently are rehearsing for a spring concert.

— barbara dargis, Daily Southtown, "MVCC musical group focuses on flutes as it prepares for spring concert," 3 Mar. 2018
Watch the whole cringeworthy mix-up go down in the clip below: TMZ reports that Beatty and Dunaway have been spotted rehearsing at the Dolby Theatre.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "After Last Year's Disaster, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway Are Presenting Best Picture Again at the Oscars," 2 Mar. 2018
The band got to rehearse with Timberlake three days last week.

— karen pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Waukesha native performs with Justin Timberlake during Super Bowl LII halftime show," 5 Feb. 2018
After rehearsing with his hip-hop band one evening last summer, 25-year-old Josh Virasami began making his way to his home in Tottenham, North London.

— mirren gidda, Newsweek, "Black Lives Matter Arrives in Britain," 13 Sep. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rehearse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of rehearse

Middle English rehersen, from Anglo-French rehercer, from re- + hercer to harrow, from herce harrow — more at hearse

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

rehearse Synonyms

Synonyms

chart, chronicle, describe, narrate, recite, recount, relate, report, tell;

detail, enumerate, itemize, particularize;

bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal;

delineate, depict, express, render, sketch;

Phrases

set forth;

REHEARSE Defined for English Language Learners

rehearse

verb

Definition of rehearse for English Language Learners

: to prepare for a public performance of a play, a piece of music, etc., by practicing the performance
: to direct (a group of people) as they prepare for a public performance
: to say or do (something) several times in order to practice

REHEARSE Defined for Kids

rehearse

verb re·hearse \ ri-ˈhərs \

Definition of rehearse for Students

rehearsed; rehearsing

: to practice in private in preparation for a public performance

We rehearsed our play.

History for rehearse

A device called a harrow is used to break up and smooth soil. Sometimes the first run with the harrow does not break up all the lumps of earth, and the farmer has to take the harrow over the ground more than once. The medieval French verb rehercer (from herce, “harrow”) meant “to go over again with a harrow.” English borrowed this verb as rehersen, later rehearse. When we rehearse something we are, so to speak, going over the same ground again and again.