Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
rehearse. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
rehearse, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
rehearse in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
rehearse you have here. The definition of the word
rehearse will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
rehearse, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle English rehersen, from Anglo-Norman reherser (“to repeat word-for-word”).
Pronunciation
Verb
rehearse (third-person singular simple present rehearses, present participle rehearsing, simple past and past participle rehearsed)
- (transitive) To repeat, as what has been already said; to tell over again; to recite.
There’s no need to rehearse the same old argument; we’ve heard it before, and we all agree.
- (transitive) To narrate; to relate; to tell.
The witness rehearsed the events of the night before for the listening detectives.
- (transitive, intransitive) To practise by recitation or repetition in private for experiment and improvement, prior to a public representation, especially in theater.
The main actors spent on average two hours a day rehearsing before the first night.
The lawyer advised her client to rehearse her testimony before the trial date.
1648, Robert Herrick, “When he would have his verses read”, in Hesperides:In sober mornings, do not thou reherse / The holy incantation of a verse ...
1736 March 16 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Henry Fielding, Pasquin. A Dramatick Satire on the Times: , London: J. Watts , published 1736, →OCLC, Act I, page 1:I ſuppoſe vve ſhall hardly Rehearſe the Comedy this Morning; for the Author vvas Arreſted as he vvas going home from King's Coffee-houſe; and, as I heard, it vvas for upvvards of Four Pound: I ſuppoſe he vvill hardly get Bail.
- (transitive, theater) To cause to rehearse; to instruct by rehearsal.
The director rehearsed the cast incessantly in the days leading up to opening night, and as a result they were tired and cranky when it arrived.
1916 March 11, Charles E. Van Loan, “His Folks”, in Saturday Evening Post:It was plain that he'd been rehearsed a lot, but he wasn't letter-perfect by any manner of means.
- To contrive and carefully prepare (a story, etc.) to offer consistency.
The Crown argued that the accused had rehearsed her story.
Derived terms
Translations
repeat what has already been said
practice by repetition or recitation
to cause rehearse or instruct by rehearsal