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
Although she’s branched out into acting, Hoffman is still actively performing and rehearsing stand-up, and has writing projects in development.
—
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 28 May 2025
In a pair of behind-the-scenes Instagram clips, Cyrus is seen rehearsing choreography and trying on a turquoise costume as the track plays in the background.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025
The operation, aimed at rehearsing the defense of key maritime terrain, is part of Exercise KAMANDAG 9—a war game involving the U.S., the Philippines, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, scheduled from Monday to June 6 and taking place across the Philippines.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
Like her three Blackpink bandmates, Jennie released a solo album not long ago, right before the group began rehearsing for its world tour, which is set to kick off later this year.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rehearse
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Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 28 May 2025
In a pair of behind-the-scenes Instagram clips, Cyrus is seen rehearsing choreography and trying on a turquoise costume as the track plays in the background.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025
The operation, aimed at rehearsing the defense of key maritime terrain, is part of Exercise KAMANDAG 9—a war game involving the U.S., the Philippines, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, scheduled from Monday to June 6 and taking place across the Philippines.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
Like her three Blackpink bandmates, Jennie released a solo album not long ago, right before the group began rehearsing for its world tour, which is set to kick off later this year.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 27 May 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 4 Jun. 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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