rehearse

play

verb re·hearse \ ri-ˈhərs \

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

—

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

Since mid-June, almost 30 budding thespians have been rehearsing under the direction of Laurel resident Michael Hartsfield and returning Playhouse musical director Mimi McGinniss.

— patti restivo, Laurel Leader, "'Into the Woods Jr.' a G-rated pleasure at Laurel Mill Playhouse," 10 Aug. 2017
Like other contestants, countless hours of rehearsing and performing lead up to this moment.

— alton strupp, The Courier-Journal, "Kids shine in Special Needs Pageant that focuses on 'beauty within'," 8 Aug. 2017
Salstrom and her Cleveland Junior Jitterbug students rehearse there for free.

— lynn ischay, cleveland.com, "Cleveland's Junior Jitterbugs headed to national competitions," 27 July 2017
Mentally rehearsing your race is another technique with some research support.

— cindy kuzma, SELF, "Mental Tricks to Make Your Runs Faster, Easier, and More Fun," 26 July 2017
But in the long run, his sheer skill and ambition to speak to and for the nation, rehearsed in his monumental diary, prevailed.

— david waldstreicher, The Atlantic, "The Revival of John Quincy Adams," 11 July 2017
After performing in August at the FYF Festival in Los Angeles, Sam Shepherd, who writes, records and performs as Floating Points, stopped outside of Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert to rehearse with his band.

— jim fusilli, WSJ, "‘Reflections—Mojave Desert’ by Floating Points Review: Sonic Beauty Sought in the Wilderness," 27 June 2017
These New York actors rehearse up there, then come to Pottstown.

— john timpane, Philly.com, "Theater Beat: Drunken Bard; Theater with a View out in the open; FringeArts curated schedule," 27 June 2017
Mississippians along the coast performed a well-rehearsed routine: neighbors checking on neighbors.

— david begnaud, CBS News, "Twister rips apart several buildings in Alabama," 22 June 2017

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

exercise, practice, run over

Related Words

groove, perfect, refine; point (for), prepare (for), train (with); drill, repeat; work (at or on); review, study

Near Antonyms

generalize

REHEARSE Defined for English Language Learners

rehearse

play

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

play

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.