noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:/ɹɪˈhɝsl̩/
Received-Pronunciation:/ɹɪˈhɜːsl̩/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)səl
CMU ARPABET:R IH0 HH ER1 S AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:R IY0 HH ER1 S AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The practising of something which is to be performed before an audience, usually to test or improve the interaction between several participating people, or to allow technical adjustments with respect to staging to be done.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A preparatory activity analogous to a rehearsal (sense 1).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The forest fires are just a rehearsal for the devastation that will be caused if climate change continues to worsen.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The act of rehearsing or contriving something; the fact of something's being rehearsed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The prosecution argued that the defendant's exact repetition of his account of the events several times demonstrated the rehearsal of his story.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
(psychology) a form of practice; repetition of information (silently or aloud) in order to keep it in short-term memory
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: exercise, practice, drill, practice session, recitation
5
noun
Meaning 5
a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he missed too many rehearsals
a rehearsal will be held the day before the wedding
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: dry run
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: exercise, practice, drill, practice session, recitation
