rehearsal
rih-HER-suhl
/rɪˈhɜːsl/
The cognitive process of repeatedly practicing or repeating information to maintain it in short-term memory or transfer it to long-term memory.
Can be maintenance rehearsal (simple repetition) or elaborative rehearsal (connecting to meaning).
The story behind the word. From Anglo-French 'rehercer', literally meaning 'to rake over again' or 'to re-harrow' (from 'herce', an agricultural harrow). Just as a farmer drags a harrow over soil repeatedly, mental 'rehearsal' drags information through the mind repeatedly until it sinks deep.
Word relationships
- repetition: Repetition is doing something again; rehearsal is purposeful repeating specifically to internalize or retain information.
Commonly confused with
- recital: A recital is a public performance from memory; rehearsal is the internal practice done beforehand to store the material.
Word family
- rehearse (verb): To practice or repeat mentally or physically
Collocations
- maintenance rehearsal
- elaborative rehearsal
- mental rehearsal
- verbal rehearsal
Example sentences
- "Elaborative rehearsal involves linking new vocabulary to personal memories, ensuring stronger long-term retention." Cognitive psychology
- "Rote mental rehearsal keeps a phone number active in short-term memory just long enough to write it down." Study strategies
Memory hook
REHEARSAL re-harrows your brain waves until the path is clear. Re-plow the mind until it sticks.
When not to use
Do not limit strictly to theater rehearsals when writing in cognitive science contexts.
Fun facts
- Without maintenance rehearsal, items in short-term memory decay completely in as little as 15 to 30 seconds.
Explore more words
rehearse, audience, understudy, concerted, improvisation, polished
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