rehearse
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to practice a play, piece of music, or dance many times before the public performance.
to practice a work in preparation for public performance. Ambitransitive — can be used with or without a direct object.
Simple“The band needs to rehearse their new songs before the concert on Saturday.”
In context“The cast spent six weeks rehearsing the play, focusing particularly on the complex transitions between the first and second acts.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
to repeat a set of facts, arguments, or a story that you have already said or prepared.
to enumerate or repeat a set of points, arguments, or events, often in a formal or systematic way.
Simple“She sat in the waiting room, silently rehearsing her answers for the interview.”
In context“In his closing statement, the lawyer rehearsed the evidence once more to ensure the jury understood the timeline of events.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
to carefully prepare a story or excuse so that it sounds consistent and believable.
to contrive or prepare a narrative or explanation in advance to ensure consistency or effect.
Simple“They had a well-rehearsed story ready for when the police arrived.”
In context“The witness gave a suspiciously rehearsed account of the evening, never deviating from the specific details he had provided earlier.”
“She’s also launched an acting career, thrown a big fat celebrity wedding and, somewhere along the way, found time to rehearse her biggest, most vertiginous show to date.”
“Lydon invited him to watch the Sex Pistols rehearse.”
From Middle English rehersen, from Anglo-Norman reherser (“to repeat word-for-word”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.