exercises 1 of 2

plural of exercise
1
as in practices
something done over and over in order to develop skill a young piano student dutifully going through the standard finger exercises

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in uses
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the observation that the best exercise for losing weight is the exercise of one's ability to say no to food

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exercises

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of exercise
1
as in exerts
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively a senator who consistently exercises his clout in Congress to get pork barrel projects for his state

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in drills
to do over and over so as to become skilled the only way to exercise your writing skills is to do more writing

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

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 exercises
Noun
This approach is intended to support wider production and rapid fielding while allowing engineers to continue refining the system based on feedback from soldiers participating in tests and exercises. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026 Low-impact options like yoga, stretching, swimming, and resistance band exercises will be easier on your joints. — Health Editorial Team, HEALTH, 4 Nov. 2026 Carter recommended resistance training, such as free weights, weight machines, resistance bands or body-weight exercises like push-ups, two to three times weekly, progressing gradually to a higher intensity to build more muscle. — NBC news, 4 Nov. 2026 Since the war began in February, Iranian authorities have mobilized supporters through military parades and exercises. — Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026 At minimum, rest time should be one minute, but two or three minutes between exercises is even better. — Laura Solla, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026 However, many members will complete a short set of exercises on the machines, then stay on the machine or bench while looking at their phones for long periods of time — often 10 minutes or more. — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026 These changes can make functional movements and exercises, like stair climbing, much more challenging. — Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2026 According to Farrell and Zapcic, former kings and queens were instructed to spend hours a day doing vocal exercises. — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
Never Skip Warm-Ups or Cool Downs Everyone who exercises should take time to properly warm up and cool down — that’s a non-negotiable in midlife. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026 If Google exercises the option, that would lower by up to $10 billion the total in notes that are available for issuance to Google, which currently stands at $20 billion, the filing states. — Ashley Capoot,jordan Novet,annie Palmer,lora Kolodny,kai Nicol-Schwarz,caleigh Keating, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 When Skinny Neck Tat guy tries to break into her house, Ginger exercises her constitutional right to deadly force. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 Working in his favor, Mora said, is that the pope is not a smoker and is an otherwise healthy 71-year-old who plays tennis and exercises his lungs regularly. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 In doing this, director and writer Jesse Eisenberg exercises his understanding of being both the actor and the director. — Cortlyn Kelly, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026 As Senate President, Lawson exercises significant authority over the legislative agenda, including legislation governing public sector labor relations and the charter public school sector. — Katherine Gregg, The Providence Journal, 2 Sep. 2026 Out since mid-May, Palencia should participate in team exercises the first week of September. — Josh Gross, Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 Marathe currently serves as the chairman of Leeds United and exercises 49ers Enterprises’ voting rights as a Director on the Leeds United Board, according to the Leeds United website. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exercises
Noun
  • Cooks in the Farm-to-Fork capital can choose between organic turkeys, heritage breeds with more dark meat and complex flavors, and poultry raised using regenerative agricultural practices which protect soil health.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The PBMs have faced criticisms after research has shown their practices can drive up the cost of healthcare.
    — Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Crofton Cast-Iron Dutch Oven There are a million uses for a Dutch oven over the holiday season, from making stunning desserts to baking homemade bread to preparing Grandma’s go-to stew recipe.
    — Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The neighborhood’s nineteenth-century commercial lofts were losing the manufacturing uses for which they had been built; artists were moving into them illegally as studios and homes.
    — Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • With the veil thinning, our intuition exerts an immense pull on our emotional state.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Among the elements biology has to work with, oxygen exerts the strongest pull.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Proponents say the measure applies to eight categories of projects California communities need to expand housing, improve civic infrastructure and promote green energy.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • On the other hand, many of these albums are timeless and continue to resonate, and today’s streaming culture has embraced exhuming catalog music — something that applies not only to old singles, but to old albums.
    — Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • That prospect alarms those in Europe, who fear FIFA could increasingly challenge their competitions for space on an already overcrowded calendar.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • He becomes increasingly consumed by the otherworldly dimension, which alarms his therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve).
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • The new Holocaust Museum for Hope and Humanity on Ivanhoe Boulevard will expand the Center’s physical space and, above all, its educational reach, bringing the lessons of the Holocaust to more students, families and communities.
    — Linda Chapin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Below, Forbes Finance Council members share valuable lessons on balancing creative ambitions with the business fundamentals that allow content and subscription companies to thrive.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Users can connect accounts through Plaid, a financial technology service that links applications with banks.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Sports organizations are understandably allocating substantial resources to AI infrastructure and applications … in large part to get at the data sets that sports fans generate.
    — Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • La Dame utilizes some ingredients only seen here, such as France’s superb Normandy butter.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Plus, Skullcandy's Crusher Bass technology utilizes dedicated bass drivers to really give you a head-banging experience, sending bone-shattering bass pulsating through your skull.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exercises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exercises. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!