practice 1 of 2

variants also practise

practice

2 of 2

verb

variants also practise
as in to exercise
to do over and over so as to become skilled in order to play the guitar well, you need to practice fingering every single day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun practice differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of practice are custom, habit, usage, and wont. While all these words mean "a way of acting fixed through repetition," practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

When is it sensible to use custom instead of practice?

The words custom and practice can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When can habit be used instead of practice?

In some situations, the words habit and practice are roughly equivalent. However, habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

When could usage be used to replace practice?

Although the words usage and practice have much in common, 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

When is wont a more appropriate choice than practice?

While the synonyms wont and practice are close in meaning, wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

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 practice
Noun
Instead, schools were advised to turn to practices including conflict resolution and counseling. Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025 Related article South Korean architects look to the past in their push to modernize The film illustrates the subtle politics of Suh’s practice. Megan Williams, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
Verb
Begin by taking small risks where the consequences of failure are minimal, but the opportunity to practice managing disappointment is real. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 Most classes consist of a lecture followed by a walk where participants can practice identifying plants and mushrooms. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for practice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practice
Noun
  • The night before the Rio concert, the pop star surprised beachgoers on Copacabana by taking the stage for a rehearsal.
    Christopher Ulloa, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
  • During a rehearsal in New Mexico on Oct. 21, 2021, Baldwin’s gun discharged a live bullet, killing 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
    Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • Consider that in-person work might be a feature, not just a bug, promoting habits that ultimately deliver better physical and mental health outcomes that improve your life.
    John Gallucci Jr, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • California’s governors and legislators have a very bad habit of enacting major programs and projects without fully exploring their downside risks.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • How to Clean to Remove Allergens When pollen counts are high, a new (and more frequent) cleaning routine can help ensure your home remains a safe haven.
    Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2025
  • For example, have your team offer tips on routine care such as hygiene routines, and recommend proactive measures such as regular wellness exams, vaccinations, dental care and weight management.
    Mita Malhotra, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Line dancing is a great way to exercise your mind and body.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2025
  • In Khalil's case, immigration authorities had discretion to grant temporary humanitarian release—a practice regularly employed for circumstances like family births or deaths—but chose not to exercise.
    Juwayriah Wright, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Paxton was acquitted of allegations of corruption and bribery after a two-week impeachment trial in 2023.
    Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Abraham’s trial in the criminal case is scheduled to start Aug. 4.
    Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • After the robot collects its detailed visual and spectral imagery, Jiang says, a customized AI model compares it to a data bank to spot patterns known to be indicators of existing disease or vulnerability, allowing a farmer to concentrate prevention or treatment efforts on a particular location.
    Hope Hodge Seck, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • About halfway through the 2020s, there are now enough songs that have managed this to suggest an ongoing pattern, one that may even be accelerating.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • If your manager has never gone through leadership training or development, that lack of preparation will show.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Many professionals will need a combination of work experience and additional education or training beyond their college degree to secure good professional jobs.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • While the set comes with a small Kanuma pumice incense holder, the brand’s bronze asymmetrical beauty—designed in collaboration with Vogel Studio—gives the ritual of burning incense an elegant flair.
    Lauren Arzbaecher, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Francis wanted his burial ritual simplified, with less opulence, in keeping with his view that the church should serve the poor.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practice. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

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