Rehearse — Meaning, Definition & Examples

Definition

1. To practise a play, piece of music, or dance in order to prepare for a public performance.
2. To practise something you plan to say to someone, such as a speech or your answers.
3. To repeat opinions or arguments that have been expressed before.

Context Alive

The school play was only two days away. The students gathered on stage after class, running through every scene from start to finish. Their drama teacher asked them to rehearse the final act one more time. They repeated their lines with growing confidence, knowing opening night was almost here.

Meanings

3 meanings

1 To Practise for a Public Performance (Verb) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about practising a play, a piece of music, a dance, or any kind of show before performing it in front of an audience. Imagine a band locked in a studio for hours, playing the same songs over and over to rehearse before their big concert — they want every note to be perfect. This is rehearsing — preparing a performance through repeated practice. You might hear “we need to rehearse the opening scene again” or “the choir rehearsed every evening for two weeks.” Or picture a ballet dancer rehearsing the same routine a hundred times before the show. The word carries a sense of serious preparation. ✏️ You can rehearse something (rehearse a play) or rehearse for something (rehearse for the concert) — both patterns are very common.

Vivid Example

The cast had been working on the musical for months. They spent every Saturday afternoon at the theatre to rehearse their scenes and songs together. By opening night, every line and every step felt completely natural.

2 To Practise Something You Plan to Say (Verb) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about going over words or ideas you want to say before you actually say them to someone. You know when you have a difficult conversation coming up — maybe asking your boss for a raise — and you stand in front of the mirror practising exactly what you’ll say? This is rehearsing what you plan to say. You might rehearse your answers before a job interview, or someone could carefully rehearse a resignation speech before walking into the meeting. Or think about a lawyer rehearsing closing arguments the night before a big trial. The word suggests careful preparation so nothing goes wrong. ✏️ When something sounds too prepared and unnatural, people say “that sounded rehearsed” — and it’s not a compliment.

Vivid Example

She sat in her car outside the office, going over every word. She had been quietly rehearsing what she would say to her manager all morning. She took a deep breath, grabbed her bag, and walked inside feeling ready.

3 To Repeat Opinions Already Expressed — Formal (Verb) Less Common ▼

This meaning is about repeating arguments or opinions that have already been said many times before. Imagine a political debate where both sides keep rehearsing the same old arguments instead of offering anything new — everyone has heard it all before. This is rehearsing — going over familiar points yet again. You might read “the article merely rehearses arguments that have been made many times” or “there is no need to rehearse the well-known facts of this case.” Or think about a meeting where someone rehearses the same complaints from last month. The word suggests repetition without adding anything fresh. ✏️ This is mostly found in formal writing and academic English — you won’t hear it much in everyday conversation.

Vivid Example

The committee sat through another long session. The chairman simply rehearsed the same points from the previous meeting without offering any new solutions. Everyone looked bored, already knowing every word before he said it.

Examples from the Street

“We’ve been rehearsing every evening this week — the show opens on Friday.”

We’ve been practising the performance every night this week — the first night is on Friday

“She rehearsed her speech in front of the mirror about twenty times.”

She practised delivering her talk while looking at her reflection roughly twenty times

“Let’s rehearse what you’re going to say to the boss before you go in.”

Let’s practise and prepare your words for the manager before you walk into the meeting

Common Patterns

rehearse a play/scene/song → practise performing a piece before the real event

rehearse for (a show/concert/production) → prepare by practising ahead of a performance

rehearse lines/a part/a role → practise the words or character you’ll perform

rehearse with (someone/the band/the cast) → practise together as a group

well-rehearsed → thoroughly practised and polished

under-rehearsed → not practised enough; underprepared

rehearse a speech/presentation/argument → practise delivering words before the real situation

rehearse what you’re going to say → prepare and practise your words in advance

rehearse in your head/mind → mentally go through something before doing it

rehearse in front of (a mirror/someone) → practise while being watched or observing yourself

a rehearsed answer/response → a reply that has been prepared and practised in advance (often implies it sounds unnatural)

a rehearsal (for something) → a practice session before a performance or event

a dress rehearsal → a final practice in full costume, exactly as the real performance will be

in rehearsal → currently in the process of practising for a performance

at/during rehearsal → while practising

Collocations

3 collocations

rehearse your lines

practise what you're going to say

well-rehearsed

practised many times and done smoothly

rehearse a speech

practise delivering a presentation

Example Sentences

12 examples

1

The actors have been rehearsing the play for six weeks and are finally ready for opening night

The performers have been practising the stage production for a month and a half and are at last prepared for the first public showing.

2

She rehearsed her speech so many times that she could deliver it without looking at her notes

She practised her talk so often that she was able to give it entirely from memory.

3

The band needs to rehearse for the festival — they haven’t played together since March

The music group must get together and practise before the outdoor event — they haven’t performed as a group since the spring.

4

His answer sounded too rehearsed — like he’d been told exactly what to say

His reply sounded overly prepared and unnatural — as if someone had given him a script to memorise.

5

I always rehearse in my head what I’m going to say before a difficult conversation

I always mentally go through my words before having a challenging discussion with someone.

6

They did a full dress rehearsal on Thursday, and the director said it was perfect

They ran a complete final practice in costume two days before the show, and the person in charge said it was flawless.

7

We rehearsed with the choir all morning and ran through the entire programme twice

We practised alongside the singing group for the whole first half of the day and went through the complete schedule of songs two times.

8

The presentation felt stiff because every line had been well-rehearsed to the point of sounding robotic

The talk felt rigid because every sentence had been practised so thoroughly that it came across as mechanical.

9

The play is currently in rehearsal and won’t open to the public until next month

The stage production is presently being practised and won’t be available for audiences until the following month.

10

Rehearse what you’re going to say to the interview panel — first impressions really matter

Prepare and practise the words you’ll use with the selection committee — the way you come across initially is extremely important.

Learner Examples

★

Before oral exams, students should rehearse their answers out loud — thinking about what to say is not the same as actually saying it

Before spoken tests, learners need to practise their responses by speaking them — planning your words in your head is very different from producing them with your voice.

★

Teachers who rehearse difficult classroom scenarios in advance — like managing disruptions or giving critical feedback — handle them far more confidently when they actually happen

Educators who mentally prepare for challenging teaching situations beforehand — such as dealing with interruptions or delivering tough comments — cope with them much more assuredly when they occur in real life.