rehearse

verb re·hearse \ri-ˈhərs\

: to prepare for a public performance of a play, a piece of music, etc., by practicing the performance

: to direct (a group of people) as they prepare for a public performance

: to say or do (something) several times in order to practice

re·hearsedre·hears·ing

Full Definition of REHEARSE

transitive verb

a : to say again : repeat

b : to recite aloud in a formal manner

: to present an account of : relate <rehearse a familiar story>

: to recount in order : enumerate <rehearsed their demands>

a : to give a rehearsal of

b : to train or make proficient by rehearsal

: to perform or practice as if in a rehearsal

intransitive verb

: to engage in a rehearsal

— re·hears·er noun

See rehearse defined for English-language learners

See rehearse defined for kids

Origin of REHEARSE

Middle English rehersen, from Anglo-French rehercer, from re- + hercer to harrow, from herce harrow — more at hearse

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to REHEARSE

Synonyms: exercise, practice, run over

Rhymes with REHEARSE

adverse, amerce, asperse, averse, coerce, commerce, converse, cutpurse, disburse, disperse, diverse, dry nurse, free verse, immerse, inverse, Nez Percé, obverse, perverse, reverse, scrub nurse, sesterce, submerse, transverse, traverse, wet nurse

REHEARSE Defined for Kids

rehearse

verb re·hearse \ri-ˈhərs\

re·hearsedre·hears·ing

Definition of REHEARSE for Kids

: to practice in private in preparation for a public performance <We rehearsed our play.>

Word History of REHEARSE

A device called a harrow is used to break up and smooth soil. Sometimes the first run with the harrow does not break up all the lumps of earth, and the farmer has to take the harrow over the ground more than once. The medieval French verb rehercer (from herce, “harrow”) meant “to go over again with a harrow.” English borrowed this verb as rehersen, later rehearse. When we rehearse something we are, so to speak, going over the same ground again and again.