dry run

Definition of dry runnext
as in rehearsal
a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance we had time for just one dry run of the play before opening night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dry run The makers did two test runs with a replica of identical size and weight to the tapestry, one in a Mercedes truck from Bayeux to London, in a secret February dry run, another in public in April. Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026 One fear is that these pipeline problems are not merely a Golden State issue—that California’s primary is a (very) dry run for the Democrats’ path to higher leadership, and specifically the great big beautiful office that will open in 2029. Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 As part of its dry run at Mars, the spacecraft will also practice hunting for faint circumplanetary rings of dust that might originate from the planet’s small moons and be backlit by the sun into clearer visibility. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 May 2026 Part of the current crew’s mission was to serve as a dry run and scouting party, examining geology and topography. Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dry run
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dry run
Noun
  • North Korea has long condemned such joint exercises as rehearsals for invasion.
    Reuters, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Washington and Seoul say their drills are defensive in nature, but North Korea calls them an invasion rehearsal and often reacts with weapons tests.
    Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The trial brings to a head a decades-old case that for years has drawn the eyes of hip-hop fans and true crime experts alike.
    Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Creeden filed a motion for the continuance on Thursday, saying the probation office hadn’t yet released its draft presentence investigation report and that the court hadn’t yet ruled on his motions for acquittal and for a new trial.
    Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dry run.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dry%20run. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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