rehearse

verb

re·​hearse ri-ˈhərs How to pronounce rehearse (audio)
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

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 on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The bathroom leans into luxury with a spa-like vibe, complete with a steam shower and a jacuzzi tub wrapped in marble and copper finishes—a perfect place to unwind after a long day, whether rehearsing a pas de deux or trying on clothes at Bergdorf’s. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 June 2025 The actors rehearse all day and perform that night for a paying audience. Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 June 2025 Behind them, in the center of the park on an inactive ground fountain, were a dozen elderly Chinese women rehearsing a choreographed dance. Literary Hub, 30 June 2025 Pictured below on Friday, June 27, departing the Gritti Palace en route to the ring ceremony, Oprah Winfrey meets the very same boarding difficulty, while Gayle King mentally rehearses that big first step down into the bobbing motoscafo. Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rehearse

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of rehearse was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rehearse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rehearse. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

rehearse

verb
re·​hearse ri-ˈhərs How to pronounce rehearse (audio)
rehearsed; rehearsing
1
a
: to say again : repeat
b
: to recount in order : enumerate
they rehearsed their complaints in a letter
2
a
: to practice (a play or scene) for public performance
b
: to train or instruct (as actors) by rehearsal
3
: to engage in a rehearsal
rehearser noun
Etymology

Middle English rehersen "to say again, repeat," from early French rehercier "to go over again and again," literally, "to harrow again," from re- "again" and hercier "to harrow," from herce "a harrow"

Word Origin
In the Middle Ages, French farmers used a tool they called a herce. This was a triangular wooden frame with sturdy pegs or teeth on one side. It was pulled over plowed farmland to break up the soil in order to make it smooth for planting. The early French verb used to describe this action was hercier, which meant "to harrow." In most cases the process had to be repeated over and over, so the word rehercier was formed, meaning "to harrow again" or "reharrow." In time, rehercier came to be used with more general meanings like "to go over something again (and again)," as in repeating a school lesson or a story. The word came into Middle English as rehersen, meaning "to say again, repeat." Through the years the English word, now spelled rehearse, has picked up new meanings. Perhaps the most familiar one now is "to go through (a scene or play) over and over for practice until it is ready for performance."

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