Rehearse: meaning, definitions and examples

Most often used in the context of performing arts, such as theater, dance, or music, where individuals or groups repeatedly run through a performance to perfect it.

• The actors rehearsed their lines for hours.
• The band rehearsed the new song until it sounded perfect.

Used frequently in the context of learning or refining a skill or activity through repeated exercise or performance. Can be used in both casual and formal settings.

• She practices the piano for an hour every day.
• The soccer team needs more practice before the big game.

Commonly used when discussing the process of getting ready for a specific event, task, or challenge. It can encompass a wide range of activities, from mental to physical preparations.

• He spent the evening preparing for his job interview.
• She prepared a delicious meal for her guests.

Typically used to describe a quick or preliminary rehearsal, often to test the general flow of a performance. It is less detailed than a full rehearsal.

• They did a run-through of the play before the final performance.
• We need to do one more run-through of the presentation.

Primarily used in the context of performing arts like theater, music, and dance, where participants practice a performance before the actual event.

• The actors spent weeks rehearsing the play before the opening night.
• We need to rehearse the dance routine one more time before the show.

Used when repeating words from memory, often in a formal or educational setting such as poetry readings or religious practices.

• The students had to recite a poem in front of the class.
• He can recite all the capitals of the world from memory.

Informally used to mean reviewing or checking something, often in an educational or preparatory context.

• Let's go over the answers one more time before we submit the test.
• She went over her notes before the big presentation.

Commonly used in educational, military, or professional settings, often referring to repetitive practice to achieve proficiency or preparedness.

• The soldiers drilled their maneuvers for hours.
• The teacher drilled the students on their multiplication tables.

Used when preparing for a performance, such as a play, concert, or speech, and involves going through the entire piece or event in a structured manner.

• The actors rehearse their lines every day after school.
• We need to rehearse the final scene again before the opening night.

Used when doing a test or preliminary attempt to see how something works, often related to events, processes, or systems to identify any issues beforehand.

• We are doing a trial run of the new software next week.
• Before the official launch, let's have a trial run of the event.