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

If the pregame rehearsal was any clue, expect to see diehard fans Timotheé Chalamet and Ben Stiller seated next to each other. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 9 June 2026

What was the rehearsal process like? —Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

There was stuff up ahead—the calendar entries, and rehearsals with the Violators, in preparation for a tour. —Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Her bond with her bandmates were evident during both their rehearsal and during their first performance. —Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 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

• 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