as in rehearsals
a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance
we had time for just one dry run of the play before opening night
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Recent Examples of dry runs
Israel has intermittently launched such long-range airstrikes since July 2024, after a Houthi drone hit Tel Aviv, in combat missions that, especially in retrospect, served as dry runs for the June air war against Iran.
—
Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dry runs
rehearsals
Noun
-
Lance’s way of dealing with rehearsals and the shooting was very accurate.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Then, there’s a tech period of 12 hours for two to three weeks, followed by more rehearsals during the day and preview performances at night that would get her home around one in the morning.—
Leigh Scheps,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dry runs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dry%20runs. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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