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
In the portion of Tuesday’s practice open to the media, Benedet got the first reps at left tackle in individual drills. Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 That means millions of young people remain vulnerable to a practice the nation’s leading experts have long rejected as both harmful and scientifically baseless. Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Later bedtimes, co-sleeping, and room sharing—practices more common in some Latino households—may affect both sleep duration and how parents perceive their children’s rest. Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 As seedlings emerge, reduce the frequency of watering and practice deeper irrigation. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for practice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practice
Noun
  • Dorcaz was attacked shortly after leaving a dance rehearsal and was reportedly on his way home when the incident occurred.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Chinese Premier Li Qiang and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will have front row seats at the event which, according to satellite imagery of apparent rehearsals, could include a large-scale mass gymnastics performance.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The Phillies also exploited a habit that emerged with Ohtani’s return to the mound as a two-way player.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Earlier, during a quiet evening at their home in Dallas, Texas, Muhl and her husband Andrew decided to mix peanut butter with some banana as part of their routine of introducing new foods one by one.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • From smart food choices to better sleep routines, small changes can make a big difference for your digestion.
    Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The new wing-tip design keeps your earbuds in place while walking, running and exercising.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The lawsuit argues O’Brien was terminated for exercising her free speech rights.
    Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The attorneys agreed that the case should be scheduled for trial.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Serafini’s attorney also asked Butrick about telling KCRA about seeing Serafini’s demeanor in court during the trial.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Little kids will enjoy its pre-programmed songs and dances, while older kids can use a smart app to program new movement patterns and routines.
    Anja Webb, Parents, 7 Oct. 2025
  • But if this cool blue isn’t your style, choose from 21 other patterns, including holiday themes.
    Sheri Kaz, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Messi spent all week training with Argentina’s national team, presumably to prepare for the friendly against Venezuela Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
  • However, after learning of the whistleblower complaint, county officials told the commission that four of its recent hires did not meet eligibility requirements, and they were expelled from the training program.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Spiritually, onyx is linked to the root chakra and is often incorporated into rituals or crystal grids for stability, grounding and protection.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The Masters’ green jacket, the haka before New Zealand rugby matches, the seventh-inning stretch in baseball—these rituals are not just trimmings but the connective tissue of sport.
    Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practice. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

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