rehearsal

rehearsal — noun

1. a planned session in which performers practise a play, piece of music, dance, or

1.nounB1
Definition

a planned session in which performers practise a play, piece of music, dance, or similar show together before presenting it in front of an audience.

Example

The cast gathered at the theatre for the first rehearsal of the new musical.

rehearsal + of + [performance]

Before the concert, the orchestra held three full rehearsals to perfect each piece.

Common collocations
  • dress rehearsal
  • final rehearsal
  • rehearsal room
  • rehearsal space
  • call rehearsal
  • attend rehearsal
  • hold a rehearsal
  • rehearsal for
Synonyms
  • practice

    broader term; can be individual or group, not limited to performances

  • run-through

    a complete, uninterrupted practice of the whole piece from start to finish

  • dry run

    a trial practice, often for a non-theatrical event

Grammar Patterns

rehearsal + of + [performance / piece]

rehearsal + for + [event]

at / during + rehearsal

Usage Note

Countable when referring to individual sessions ('three rehearsals'); uncountable when referring to the activity in general ('We have rehearsal at six.').

Common Mistakes

I have a rehearsal for my exam tomorrow.
I have a revision session for my exam tomorrow.
'rehearsal' is for performances, not for exam preparation.

2. an act of repeating or listing events, facts, or statements that have already be

2.nounC1
Definition

an act of repeating or listing events, facts, or statements that have already been mentioned, often in a lengthy or detailed manner.

Example

His long rehearsal of the meeting's details left the listeners feeling bored.

rehearsal + of + [details]

The witness gave a calm rehearsal of everything she had seen that night.

Common collocations
  • rehearsal of
  • long rehearsal
  • detailed rehearsal
Synonyms
  • recital

    similar meaning but more neutral in tone; can also refer to a musical performance

  • repetition

    focuses on the act of saying the same thing again, often without elaboration

  • recounting

    more neutral; simply tells what happened without implying tediousness

Grammar Patterns

rehearsal + of + [details / events / facts]

Usage Note

Often carries a tone of mild disapproval, implying the repetition is unnecessary or tedious. Usually followed by 'of' and a noun phrase describing what is being recounted.

Common Mistakes

The lawyer gave a rehearsal of the evidence.' (use 'recitation' or 'summary' instead — 'rehearsal' in this sense suggests tedious repetition, not an official legal account.)
The lawyer gave a summary of the evidence.

3. a memory technique in which a person brings information to mind again and again,

3.nounC1
Definition

a memory technique in which a person brings information to mind again and again, through silent mental repetition or by saying it out loud, so the brain holds onto it for longer.

Example

Students often use mental rehearsal when trying to remember a long list of vocabulary words.

mental rehearsal

The professor explained how rehearsal helps transfer new facts from short-term to long-term memory.

Common collocations
  • mental rehearsal
  • rote rehearsal
  • silent rehearsal
  • verbal rehearsal
  • elaborative rehearsal
Synonyms
  • repetition

    general term; rehearsal in this sense is a specific type of intentional, memory-directed repetition

  • rote learning

    focus on memorisation through repetition without deep understanding, overlapping with rote rehearsal

  • practice

    broader; can include physical or skill-based repetition, not specifically mental memory techniques

Grammar Patterns

rehearsal + of + [information]

mental rehearsal

rote rehearsal

Usage Note

Primarily used in cognitive psychology. 'Rote rehearsal' refers to mechanical, unelaborated repetition (e.g., repeating a phone number), while 'elaborative rehearsal' connects new information to existing knowledge.

4. a trial of a planned activity that gives a person or team a chance to practise t

4.nounB2
Definition

a trial of a planned activity that gives a person or team a chance to practise the steps and find problems before the important version takes place.

Example

The product launch served as a rehearsal for the international campaign that followed.

rehearsal for [future event]

Her first job interview felt like a rehearsal for the bigger opportunities ahead.

Common collocations
  • rehearsal for
  • act as a rehearsal
  • serve as a rehearsal
  • good rehearsal
  • useful rehearsal
Synonyms
  • dry run

    direct synonym; informal, commonly used in business and technology

  • trial run

    emphasises testing rather than practising; common in product development

  • practice round

    less formal; often used in sports and competitive contexts

Antonyms
  • real event

    the actual, important occasion that the rehearsal prepares for

Grammar Patterns

rehearsal + for + [event]

a rehearsal of + [future event]

act as a rehearsal

Usage Note

Common in business, sports, and personal contexts for any 'trial run' of a non-performance activity. Unlike sense 1, this does not involve an audience or a stage.

Common Mistakes

The doctor did a rehearsal of the surgery on a real patient.
The doctor did a rehearsal of the surgery on a model.
'rehearsal' in this sense implies practice, not the real procedure.

Word family

  • rehearse
    verbB1
  • rehearsed
    adjectiveB2
  • unrehearsed
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words involve preparing for something, but they differ in scope and context. 'Rehearsal' is specific to group performances — plays, concerts, dances — where participants practise together under a director. 'Practice' is far broader: a pianist can practise alone, a football team can practise drills, and a student can practise maths problems. A 'run-through' is a complete, uninterrupted pass through the entire piece, often the final step before a show. A 'dress rehearsal' is the last full rehearsal with costumes, lighting, and sets, simulating the real performance exactly. 'Tryout' focuses on testing suitability rather than preparing — an actor does a tryout for a role, not a rehearsal of one. For example: 'The choir had six rehearsals before the concert' (group preparation); 'She practised her solo at home every night' (individual work); 'Let's do a quick run-through before the audience arrives' (complete pass).

rehearsal ↗practice ↗run-throughdress rehearsaltryout

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • hold a rehearsal
  • attend rehearsal
  • call a rehearsal
  • rehearsal schedule
  • rehearsal space
  • dress rehearsal
  • final rehearsal
  • rehearsal room

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'rehearsal' entered English in the 1300s from Old French 'rehercier', meaning 'to go over again' or 'to harrow again' — a farming image of dragging a harrow across a field a second time. The prefix 're-' means 'again', and 'hercier' means 'to harrow' (break up soil). By the 1500s, the sense had shifted from 'going over ground again' to 'going over a performance again in preparation'.