exercise

1 of 2

noun

ex·​er·​cise ˈek-sər-ˌsīz How to pronounce exercise (audio)
1
a
: the act of bringing into play or realizing in action : use
the exercise of self-control
b
: the discharge of an official function or professional occupation
exercise of his judicial duties
c
: the act or an instance of carrying out the terms of an agreement (such as an option)
often used attributively
an option's exercise price
2
a
: regular or repeated use of a faculty or bodily organ
b
: bodily exertion for the sake of developing and maintaining physical fitness
trying to get more exercise
3
: something performed or practiced in order to develop, improve, or display a specific capability or skill
arithmetic exercises
vocal exercises
4
: a performance or activity having a strongly marked secondary or ulterior aspect
party politics has always been an exercise in compromiseH. S. Ashmore
5
a
: a maneuver, operation, or drill carried out for training and discipline
naval exercises
b
exercises plural : a program including speeches, announcements of awards and honors, and various traditional practices of secular or religious character
commencement exercises

exercise

2 of 2

verb

exercised; exercising

transitive verb

1
a
: to make effective in action : use
didn't exercise good judgment
b
: to bring to bear : exert
exercise influence
c
: to implement the terms of
exercise an option
2
a
: to use repeatedly in order to strengthen or develop
exercise a muscle
b
: to train by drills and maneuvers
exercise troops
c
: to put through exercises
exercise the horses
3
a
: to engage the attention and effort of
b
: to cause anxiety, alarm, or indignation in
the issues exercising voters this year

intransitive verb

: to take exercise
exercisable adjective

Examples of exercise in a Sentence

Noun Get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Swimming is my favorite kind of exercise. She did stretching exercises before her daily run. Do the writing exercise at the end of each chapter. The negotiations have gotten nowhere, and I see no reason to continue with this pointless exercise. Verb It's important to exercise every day. He eats right and exercises regularly. Bicycle riding exercises the leg muscles. The stable boys exercise the horses every morning. He didn't exercise good judgment. We just need to exercise common sense. She has been reluctant to exercise her authority. Exercise caution when using these chemicals.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
When searching for the perfect pair, the golden rule is to choose a set that aligns with your exercise regimen, whether that’s prepping for a triathlon, leisurely lap swimming, or competing professionally. Marisa Petrarca, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024 In the run-up last month to NATO’s largest military exercises since the Cold War, a top European commander was asked what might happen if the United States quits the alliance, as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump appears apt to do. Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 2024 As Benoist's newspaper reporter Sadie and her colleagues type up the scandalous scoops from their candidate's bus, I was struck by the inanity of the whole exercise. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 The launches came days after joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises that North Korea denounced as provocative. Michael Crowley, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 And research backs this up: A 2020 meta-analysis of 13 studies concluded that resistance exercises can significantly improve balance for both adults and older folks. Christa Sgobba, SELF, 18 Mar. 2024 Grumbling over the state of Hurley’s problem is an annual exercise in Tempe. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024 Maximize movement Getting enough regular exercise is an essential part of almost any recovery process, but its preventative role in keeping the immune system fighting fit is not to be underestimated. Georgia Day, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2024 The Hall County Sheriff's Office deputy was with the office's K-9 teams, conducting a training exercise on Tuesday, when the encounter occurred, police said on social media. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
As a British colony, Hong Kong was long allowed to exercise a high degree of autonomy over its governance and laws — a system that China promised to continue after Britain handed over control in 1997. Joy Dong, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Experts stressed that more research is necessary to understand how the female body responds to exercise across its lifespan. Kaitlin Vogel, Health, 20 Mar. 2024 The unprecedented nature of the election is another reason for exercising caution in interpreting it, but, in all likelihood, as in 2016 and 2020, the outcome will rest on the results in a handful of states. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2024 Exercise really helps Studies have shown that women–especially those in their forties and beyond–are less likely to exercise consistently, if at all. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 This craft for 2-year-olds exercises their hands and their brain! Nicole Harris, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 Gosling gets to exercise his comedic chops again here, channeling bits of Barbie‘s Ken in Colt. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 Women who participated in the study lowered their mortality risk by 18% by exercising 140 minutes per week. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Weather officials are advising residents to exercise caution as the possibility of thunderstorms looms. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exercise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French exercice, from Latin exercitium, from exercitare to train, exercise, frequentative of exercēre to train, occupy, from ex- + arcēre to enclose, hold off — more at ark

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of exercise was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near exercise

Cite this Entry

“Exercise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exercise. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exercise

1 of 2 noun
ex·​er·​cise ˈek-sər-ˌsīz How to pronounce exercise (audio)
1
: the act of putting into use, action, or practice
the exercise of power
2
: bodily activity for the sake of physical fitness
get plenty of fresh air and exercise
3
: something done to develop skill
arithmetic exercises
finger exercises
4
plural : a program of songs, speeches, and announcements of awards and honors
graduation exercises

exercise

2 of 2 verb
exercised; exercising
1
: to put into use : exert
exercise patience
exercise authority
2
a
: to use again and again in order to strengthen or develop
exercise a muscle
b
: to put through exercises : give exercise to
exercise the dog
3
: to worry, alarm, or annoy about something
the people were exercised about pollution
4
: to take exercise
exercises every day
exercisable adjective
exerciser noun

Medical Definition

exercise

1 of 2 noun
ex·​er·​cise ˈek-sər-ˌsīz How to pronounce exercise (audio)
1
: regular or repeated use of a faculty or bodily organ
2
: bodily exertion for the sake of developing and maintaining physical fitness

exercise

2 of 2 verb
exercised; exercising

transitive verb

1
: to use repeatedly in order to strengthen or develop (as a muscle)
2
: to put through exercises

intransitive verb

: to take exercise

Legal Definition

exercise

1 of 2 noun
ex·​er·​cise ˈek-sər-ˌsīz How to pronounce exercise (audio)
1
: the discharge of an official function or professional occupation
2
: the act or an instance of carrying out the terms of an agreement (as an option)

exercise

2 of 2 transitive verb
exercised; exercising
1
: to make effective in action
exercising power
2
: to bring to bear
exercise influence
3
: to implement the terms of (as an option)

More from Merriam-Webster on exercise

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