rehearsal
rehearsal — noun
1. a planned session in which performers practise a play, piece of music, dance, or
a planned session in which performers practise a play, piece of music, dance, or similar show together before presenting it in front of an audience.
The cast gathered at the theatre for the first rehearsal of the new musical.
rehearsal + of + [performance]
Before the concert, the orchestra held three full rehearsals to perfect each piece.
Lin watched from the back row as the dancers ran through their final rehearsal.
The director asked everyone to treat the dress rehearsal like a real performance.
During rehearsals the choir practised their harmonies until every note sounded clear.
- practice
broader term; can be individual or group, not limited to performances
- run-through
a complete, uninterrupted practice of the whole piece from start to finish
- dry run
a trial practice, often for a non-theatrical event
文法句型
rehearsal + of + [performance / piece]
rehearsal + for + [event]
at / during + rehearsal
用法筆記
Countable when referring to individual sessions ('three rehearsals'); uncountable when referring to the activity in general ('We have rehearsal at six.').
常見錯誤
2. an act of repeating or listing events, facts, or statements that have already be
an act of repeating or listing events, facts, or statements that have already been mentioned, often in a lengthy or detailed manner.
His long rehearsal of the meeting's details left the listeners feeling bored.
rehearsal + of + [details]
The witness gave a calm rehearsal of everything she had seen that night.
Grandma's rehearsal of the family story grew longer with each retelling.
The politician's rehearsal of the old promises convinced no one in the room.
- recital
similar meaning but more neutral in tone; can also refer to a musical performance
- repetition
focuses on the act of saying the same thing again, often without elaboration
- recounting
more neutral; simply tells what happened without implying tediousness
文法句型
rehearsal + of + [details / events / facts]
用法筆記
Often carries a tone of mild disapproval, implying the repetition is unnecessary or tedious. Usually followed by 'of' and a noun phrase describing what is being recounted.
常見錯誤
3. a memory technique in which a person brings information to mind again and again,
a memory technique in which a person brings information to mind again and again, through silent mental repetition or by saying it out loud, so the brain holds onto it for longer.
Students often use mental rehearsal when trying to remember a long list of vocabulary words.
mental rehearsal
The professor explained how rehearsal helps transfer new facts from short-term to long-term memory.
Silent rehearsal of the calming statements helped Yuki manage her nerves before the test.
Daily rehearsal of the Spanish verb endings helped Beatriz remember them for her exam.
The therapist recommended rote rehearsal for the patient struggling to recall daily routines.
- repetition
general term; rehearsal in this sense is a specific type of intentional, memory-directed repetition
- rote learning
focus on memorisation through repetition without deep understanding, overlapping with rote rehearsal
- practice
broader; can include physical or skill-based repetition, not specifically mental memory techniques
文法句型
rehearsal + of + [information]
mental rehearsal
rote rehearsal
用法筆記
Primarily used in cognitive psychology. 'Rote rehearsal' refers to mechanical, unelaborated repetition (e.g., repeating a phone number), while 'elaborative rehearsal' connects new information to existing knowledge.
4. a trial of a planned activity that gives a person or team a chance to practise t
a trial of a planned activity that gives a person or team a chance to practise the steps and find problems before the important version takes place.
The product launch served as a rehearsal for the international campaign that followed.
rehearsal for [future event]
Her first job interview felt like a rehearsal for the bigger opportunities ahead.
Organising her cousin's small wedding was good rehearsal for planning her own big ceremony.
The local election was a rehearsal for the national campaign the following spring.
Treat the presentation tomorrow as a rehearsal — the real pitch is next month.
- dry run
direct synonym; informal, commonly used in business and technology
- trial run
emphasises testing rather than practising; common in product development
- practice round
less formal; often used in sports and competitive contexts
- real event
the actual, important occasion that the rehearsal prepares for
文法句型
rehearsal + for + [event]
a rehearsal of + [future event]
act as a rehearsal
用法筆記
Common in business, sports, and personal contexts for any 'trial run' of a non-performance activity. Unlike sense 1, this does not involve an audience or a stage.