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
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
  • The two allegedly got into an altercation during rehearsal for their performance at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, which caused a years-long rift.
    Heran Mamo, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Following the video, Swift began sharing footage from the rehearsals and set of the video, letting us into her meticulous planning process.
    Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • At a moment when traditional publications are scuttling book reviews and the economic barriers to entry for emerging writers are harder and harder to overcome, these habits are more useful than ever.
    Rebecca Ackermann, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2025
  • But Patel demurred when CNN asked if the chain is seeing any consumer habits changing because of GLP-1 drugs.
    Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 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
  • 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
  • The center will close for two weeks for staff training and classroom updates.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Dayforce will today release its annual pulse survey of roughly 7,000 workers in six countries, showing that 71% of workers have not received AI training in the past year—even though 63% of workers say developing such skills is important.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 6 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 9 Oct. 2025.

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