Meaning & use
dress rehearsal
A final practice run of a performance, done with full costumes, sets, and lighting as if it were the actual show.
See it in a sentence
The cast held a dress rehearsal the night before opening night to fix any last mistakes.
The wedding planner treated the rehearsal dinner like a dress rehearsal for the big day.
A note on using this word
Dress rehearsal is often used figuratively for any full-scale trial run before a real event, beyond theater and performance.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dress rehearsal”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.