rehearsed; rehearsing
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
: 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
Ball season returns with its glittering whirl of tiaras, tuxedos, and traditional steps rehearsed across generations.
—
Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2025
Stretching on set Courtesy of Philippe Antonello for Amazon MGM Studios
Phelan is currently rehearsing around six ballets a day for New York City Ballet’s spring season, which requires pacing yourself.
—Rainesford Stauffer, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
Jot down two or three key points and practice them, but don’t rehearse too much.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Lentz said the series allowed consultants to first stage and rehearse medical procedures.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rehearse
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Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2025
Stretching on set Courtesy of Philippe Antonello for Amazon MGM Studios
Phelan is currently rehearsing around six ballets a day for New York City Ballet’s spring season, which requires pacing yourself.
—Rainesford Stauffer, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
Jot down two or three key points and practice them, but don’t rehearse too much.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Lentz said the series allowed consultants to first stage and rehearse medical procedures.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rehearse
Cite this Entry
“Rehearse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rehearse. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rehearse
verb
re·hearse
ri-ˈhərs 
rehearsed; rehearsing
1
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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