practice

verb

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prac·tice | \ ˈprak-təs

variants: or less commonly practise

practiced also practised; practicing also practising

Definition of practice

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : carry out, apply practice what you preach

b : to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually practice politeness

c : to be professionally engaged in practice medicine

2a : to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient practice the act

b : to train by repeated exercises practice pupils in penmanship

3 obsolete : plot

intransitive verb

1 : to do repeated exercises for proficiency

2 : to pursue a profession actively

3 archaic : intrigue

4 : to do something customarily

5 : to take advantage of someone he practised on their credulity with huge success — The Times Literary Supplement (London)

practice

noun

variants: or less commonly practise

Definition of practice (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : actual performance or application ready to carry out in practice what they advocated in principle

b : a repeated or customary action had this irritating practice

c : the usual way of doing something local practices

d : the form, manner, and order of conducting legal suits and prosecutions

2a : systematic exercise for proficiency practice makes perfect

b : the condition of being proficient through systematic exercise get in practice

3a : the continuous exercise of a profession

b : a professional business especially : one constituting an incorporeal property

Other Words from practice Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about practice

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Synonyms for practice

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

Choose the Right Synonym for practice

Noun

habit, practice, usage, custom, wont mean a way of acting fixed through repetition. habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively. had a habit of tapping his fingers practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice. our practice is to honor all major credit cards usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm. western-style dress is now common usage in international business custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law. the custom of wearing black at funerals wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group. as was her wont, she slept until noon

Examples of practice in a Sentence

Verb To be a good musician, you have to practice a lot. Have you been practicing your lines for the play? She had to practice flying in various weather conditions before she could get her pilot's license. Grandmother taught us to practice good manners. Practice what you preach—don't smoke if you tell your children not to smoke. Noun Being a good musician takes a lot of practice. I'm sure you'll learn your lines for the play with enough practice. They'll get better with practice. I'm late for trumpet practice. The marching band has practice every Wednesday afternoon. The team's practices usually last two hours. She has made a practice of volunteering at a homeless shelter one weekend a month. The country's poor sanitation practices have led to widespread disease. Burial practices vary around the world. It is common practice among my friends to not use capital letters in e-mail.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb After taking Sunday off following their 115-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, the Heat are expected to practice on Monday — which will be Oladipo’s first full training session since joining the team 1 1/2 weeks ago. — Khobi Price, sun-sentinel.com, "Heat’s Oladipo acknowledges ‘one leg is stronger than the other’ as he continues to work his way back from injury," 4 Apr. 2021 The time to practice effective online teaching strategies was nonexistent. — Taher Behbehani, Fortune, "4 investments that will improve the digital classroom next school year," 2 Apr. 2021 This prompts her to interview women about their experiences with consent and attend a second time to practice saying no. — Melissa Febos, BostonGlobe.com, "Searching for ways to understand and survive ‘Girlhood’," 1 Apr. 2021 The holdup is also an excellent opportunity to practice poses for your first post-vaccine selfie. — Leanza Abucayan, CNN, "How to cure your boredom while waiting in line for the Covid-19 vaccine," 27 Mar. 2021 The majority of the roster entered quarantine on March 12 and was unable to practice together for nearly a week. — Laine Higgins, WSJ, "March Madness Is Hit With Its First Covid Forfeit," 21 Mar. 2021 New Orleans has not had the time to practice standard defensive sets or rotations. — Christopher Dodson, Forbes, "Stan Van Gundy Slowly Building Defensive Culture With New Orleans Pelicans," 11 Mar. 2021 The Falcons didn’t have any time to practice once their quarantine was lifted and returned to the ice for the first time Sunday against Notre Dame-Fairfield. — Shawn Mcfarland, courant.com, "Top hockey players, teams and storylines from Week 3: After two-week quarantine, Xavier wins in return to action," 1 Mar. 2021 Finally getting time to practice together, the group is improving. — Kent Youngblood, Star Tribune, "Coach Lindsay Whalen convinced success ahead for Gophers," 30 Jan. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Established almost by accident in a way that allows unlimited debate, the filibuster practice dots early congressional history, but entered the lexicon on the eve of the Civil War. — Lisa Mascaro, ajc, "Senate filibuster's racist past fuels arguments for its end," 10 Apr. 2021 Nobody knows where this ridiculous practice originated. — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "Mulch Madness: What's best for my garden, and how much do I need? Your questions answered," 9 Apr. 2021 Brian Mich is a Partner and Natasha Moore is a Consultant in the Compliance, Forensics, and Intelligence practice at Control Risks, the global specialist risk consulting firm. — Control Risks, Forbes, "Canadian Government Ramps Up National Security Reviews Of Foreign Investments," 9 Apr. 2021 Racist pseudoscience, rooted in our nation’s history of Black enslavement, continues to taint modern medical practice, drug policy, and policing. — Ayana Jordan, STAT, "Excited delirium: valid clinical diagnosis or medicalized racism? Organized medicine needs to take a stand," 9 Apr. 2021 The state did institute new testing requirements for youth sports, but did not ban practice or play despite evidence pointing to games and gatherings afterward as likely sources of spread. — Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, "Whitmer asks for 2-week pause of Michigan youth sports, indoor dining, in-person learning," 9 Apr. 2021 Clayborne, now an attorney in private practice, voted in favor of the measures each time. — Dan Petrella, chicagotribune.com, "Judge rules Illinois must pay two former Democratic lawmakers who sued to collect raises they voted to reject while in office," 9 Apr. 2021 Caroline Roche, a consultant in IBM’s technology design practice, experienced a scare as a mother. — Claire Hastwell, Fortune, "How the Best Workplaces in Technology plan to go from virtual to hybrid workplaces," 9 Apr. 2021 Inter Miami announced Friday morning that AutoNation will be the club’s naming-rights sponsor for its first-team practice jerseys and stadium in Fort Lauderdale ahead of the team’s second season in Major League Soccer. — Khobi Price, sun-sentinel.com, "Double deal: Inter Miami, AutoNation agree to naming-rights sponsorship for team’s stadium, practice jerseys," 9 Apr. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'practice.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

10 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/practice. Accessed 16 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for practice

practice

verb

English Language Learners Definition of practice

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to do something again and again in order to become better at it

: to do (something) regularly or constantly as an ordinary part of your life

: to live according to the customs and teachings of (a religion)

practice

noun

English Language Learners Definition of practice (Entry 2 of 2)

: the activity of doing something again and again in order to become better at it

: a regular occasion at which you practice something

: something that is done often or regularly

See the full definition for practice in the English Language Learners Dictionary

practice

verb

prac·tice | \ ˈprak-təs

practiced; practicing

Kids Definition of practice

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to do or work at often so as to learn well or improve Practice the piano daily.

2 : to do or perform often or usually Try to practice good manners.

3 : to engage in or work at as a profession practice medicine

practice

noun

Kids Definition of practice (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act of doing something again and again in order to learn or improve Ballet takes a lot of practice.

2 : a regular event at which something is done again and again to increase skill soccer practice

3 : actual performance : use I put his advice into practice.

4 : a usual way of doing something It's our practice to rise early.

5 : continuous work in a profession the practice of law

practice

verb

prac·tice

variants: or practise \ ˈprak-təs

practiced or practised; practicing or practising

Medical Definition of practice

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

: to be professionally engaged in practice medicine

intransitive verb

: to pursue a profession actively

practice

noun

variants: also practise

Medical Definition of practice (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the continuous exercise of a profession

2 : a professional business especially : one constituting an incorporeal property the doctor sold his practice and retired

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practice

noun

prac·tice

Legal Definition of practice

1 : the form and manner of conducting judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings

2a : the continuous exercise of a profession also : the performance of services that are considered to require an appropriate license engaged in the unauthorized practice of law

b : a professional business

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