A rehearsal is practicing something before you perform it for real. When actors prepare for a play, they hold rehearsals where they run through their lines, practice their movements, and figure out where to stand on stage. Musicians rehearse before concerts, trying different tempos and working out tricky passages until they sound just right.

Rehearsals happen in many situations beyond performance. You might rehearse a speech you're giving in class, running through it several times to build confidence. A sports team rehearses plays during practice. Even firefighters and airline pilots rehearse emergency procedures so they'll know exactly what to do if something goes wrong.

What makes rehearsal different from simply practicing is its connection to an upcoming performance or event. You're preparing for a specific moment when it will matter. Good rehearsal means the actual performance feels natural, like you've done it a hundred times before, because you have.