practice

1 of 2

verb

prac·​tice ˈprak-təs 

variants or less commonly practise

practiced also practised; practicing also practising

transitive verb

1

a

: carry out, apply

practice what you preach

b

: to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually

practice politeness

practice yoga

c

: to be professionally engaged in

practice medicine/dentistry/law

2

a

: to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient

The team practiced the play.

b

: to train by repeated exercises

practice pupils in penmanship

3

obsolete : plot

intransitive verb

1

: to do repeated exercises for proficiency

To be a good musician, you'll have to practice a lot.

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)

practicer noun

practiced

2 of 2

adjective

prac·​ticed ˈprak-təst 

variants or less commonly practised

1

: experienced, skilled

a practiced chef

2

: learned by practice

a practiced skill

Synonyms of practice

Verb

• exercise

Adjective

• skilled
• adept
• proficient
• experienced
• skillful
• expert
• accomplished
• good

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.

Adjective

Only a few of the dancers are practiced in traditional ballet.

He split the log with practiced skill.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But the way telemedicine is practiced varies widely, and state laws largely dictate rules that telehealth providers must follow. —Maia Rosenfeld, NBC news, 29 May 2026

That will give the Dolphins (and the 28 teams who open the season the Sunday or Monday after Labor Day) a full two weeks for new players to practice. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026

Adjective

Inside, a few dozen crew members move through the rooms with practiced efficiency, managing cameras and lighting rigs. —Maneet Ahuja, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

Seoul, South Korea — The week before Close Your Eyes stepped onto the stage for their first-ever solo concert, the seven members moved in practiced formation across a basement rehearsal studio in Seoul’s Gangnam district. —Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English practisen, from Middle French practiser, from Medieval Latin practizare, alteration of practicare, from practica practice, noun, from Late Latin practice, from Greek praktikē, from feminine of praktikos

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1c

Adjective

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing practice

• bad practice
• family practice
• general practice
• good practice
• group practice
• in practice
• out of practice
• practice deception on
• practice law
• practice makes perfect
• practice-teach
• practice teaching
• practice what one preaches
• private practice
• put (something) into practice
• sharp practice
• stay/keep in practice

Rhymes for practice

• actus
• cactus
• practise
• tractus
• malpractice

Kids Definition

practice

1 of 2 verb

prac·​tice

variants also practise

ˈprak-təs 

practiced or practised; practicing or practising

1

: to perform or work at over and over so as to become skilled

practice juggling

2

: carry out, apply

practice what you preach

3

: to do or perform often or usually

practice politeness

4

: to engage in or work at as a profession

practice medicine

practicer noun

practice

2 of 2 noun

variants also practise

1

a

: actual performance or application

b

: a repeated or usual action

it was our practice to rise early

c

: the usual way of doing something

local practice

2

a

: action done over and over in order to acquire skill

practice makes perfect

b

: the condition of being skilled through practice

get in practice

3

a

: continuous work in a profession

the practice of law

b

: a professional business

the doctor has expanded her practice

Medical Definition

practice

1 of 2 verb

prac·​tice

variants or practise

ˈprak-təs 

practiced or practised; practicing or practising

transitive verb

: to be professionally engaged in

practice medicine

intransitive verb

: to pursue a profession actively

practice

2 of 2 noun

variants also practise

1

: the continuous exercise of a profession

2

: a professional business

especially : one constituting an incorporeal property

the doctor sold his practice and retired

Legal Definition

practice

noun

prac·​tice

1

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

2

a

: 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