dress rehearsal

noun

Synonyms of dress rehearsalnext
1
: a full rehearsal (as of a play) in costume and with stage properties shortly before the first performance
2
: a practice exercise for something to come : dry run

Examples of dress rehearsal in a Sentence

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.
Think of the test cake as the dress rehearsal—one last chance to make any tweaks before showtime. Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2026 What to expect SpaceX got through most of the countdown Thursday, essentially repeating what the launch team accomplished in a recent dress rehearsal. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2026 Dara performing during a dress rehearsal in Vienna on Saturday. Andrew Jones, NBC news, 16 May 2026 Inter had beaten Lazio 3-0 on Saturday in Serie A in a dress rehearsal for Wednesday’s cup final in the same stadium in Rome. ABC News, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dress rehearsal

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dress rehearsal was in 1812

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Cite this Entry

“Dress rehearsal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dress%20rehearsal. Accessed 27 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

dress rehearsal

noun
: a rehearsal of a play in costume and with stage properties shortly before the first performance

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