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
Though these core concerns have remained a constant in the group’s practice, its conceptual orientation has shifted over the past several years, from a focus on spatial interventions toward more explicitly participatory practices that question authorship and artwork. Joanna Warsza, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025 Vought cited concerns over diversity and equity practices rather than the shutdown but the action directly hit constituents of Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, both of whom represent New York in Congress. Jamie Tarabay, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
Like the brand’s carafe-style frother, Subliminal's NanoFoamer V2 is a dream for anyone who wants to practice latte art at home. Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025 Owners should practice patience and understanding, as well as learning to recognize any signs of fear or anxiety in their new pet. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for practice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practice
Noun
  • Eugene plays the baritone horn and consistently performs at a high level during rehearsals and performances, Cane Ridge Director of Bands Johnny Croft said.
    Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Adriana should have understood that this was important to Julia and at least texted her after rehearsal to see how the event went.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Arm-fat distribution is influenced by a mix of hormones, genetics, and lifestyle habits.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
  • His work ethic and practice habits are exceptional.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Dog day care provides a safe environment that helps establish a consistent routine.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Clinicians should build integration routines, debriefs, journaling and check-ins into their workflows so that transformation is sustainable.
    Sonia Singh, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • People most at risk for heat exhaustion are the elderly, those with high blood pressure, and individuals working or exercising in the heat.
    Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Such meddling from the executive, if ultimately successful for the president in terms of him exercising more control, would lead to far lower interest rates, something Trump has consistently argued for.
    Nick Thomas, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Those cuts have left some families who had been hoping to join trials of new treatments scrambling to find other options.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Rocha’s attorneys also filed multiple motions for acquittal, which were denied by circuit court Judge David Chamberlain, who is presiding over the trial.
    PJ Green September 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Other Club stocks like DuPont have undergone similar patterns.
    Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Either technology can show an assortment of issues like banding and dithering patterns in fills, which vary from printer to printer and can even vary from one quality setting to another with the same printer.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After a wholly inactive offseason outside of the draft, Golden State is bolstering its rotation with not a moment to spare until training camp.
    Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
  • But on the other hand, there’s a clear need for some training on both sides here.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Forced to participate in increasingly macabre rituals and tests, Giacomo is consumed by the sinister — as apparitions, ghosts and deadly rumors start to accumulate.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The line includes scent beads and tumble dryer sheets, described as transforming the act of doing laundry into a sensory ritual.
    Essence, Essence, 29 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practice. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on practice

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