verb

ensayar

rehearse

Practicar algo antes de hacerlo en público para mejorar o corregir errores.

Definition & meaning

Ensayar is a Spanish verb meaning:

To rehearse or practice something in preparation for a performance or event: to rehearse a play or a musical piece.
To test, try, or experiment with something: to test a method, material, or idea.
To attempt something, especially as a trial.

The precise meaning depends on context: it can refer to practicing a performance or testing something to see how it works.

Grammar & Word origin

Ensayar is a regular verb ending in -ar. Its first-person singular present form is ensayo (“I rehearse,” “I test,” or “I try”).

It is related to the noun ensayo , which can mean “rehearsal,” “test,” or “essay.” The verb is formed from this noun with the infinitive ending -ar.

Synonyms & antonyms

There is no single synonym that fits every use:

Practicar means “to practice” and is close to ensayar when describing preparation, but it can refer more broadly to repeated practice.
Probar means “to try” or “to test.” It emphasizes checking whether something works, rather than rehearsing it.
Experimentar means “to experiment” or “to experience,” often suggesting a more systematic test.
Improvisar (“to improvise”) can be an antonym when ensayar means to rehearse beforehand. It is not an antonym in the sense of testing something.