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
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During early rehearsals of a pivotal coatroom scene, Kaplow recalls flagging that Hawke was touching his scene partner too often.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
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With rehearsals in the early stages, the singer is spending much of his time preparing for the months-long commitment, which is set to begin in May and run through the end of the year.—
Sarah Jones,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dry runs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dry%20runs. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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