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
The Texas oil industry and its regulators have celebrated a reduction in the burning of climate-warming gases at oil wells, a practice known as flaring. ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025 The online retail giant is cracking down on the practice. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
The star linebacker barely practiced due to a back injury, didn't suit up in any preseason games, and requested a trade back on August 1st. Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025 Millions of people worldwide have reason to be thankful that Swedish engineer Rune Elmqvist decided not to practice medicine. IEEE Spectrum, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for practice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practice
Noun
  • At a rehearsal, Reich suggested that a pianist play constant eighth-note C’s, to keep the musicians together—providing the work with its buoyant, unifying pulse, which soon crept into Reich’s own music and came to emblematize musical minimalism.
    William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Amid evolving cybersecurity threats, such as ransomware attacks using double or even triple extortion tactics, having regular incident rehearsals sets the tone for resilience.
    Raymond Umerley, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • His 30-day Breathwork Bootcamp, available online, is one such tool for habit-building.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Additionally, consider adopting good hygiene habits.
    Malana VanTyler, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • For families deciphering what’s necessary and what to skip in a skin regimen, building a healthy routine for kids can be easy to manage.
    Khanh T.L. Tran, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Their daily routines barely intersect outside of practicalities.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, a 2022 first-round pick whose fifth-year option was just exercised, and 2023 Day 3 picks Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden must help compensate for the loss of the stalwart Clark, who is fully healthy after recovering from offseason toe surgery.
    Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Other lifestyle changes—like exercising, eating whole foods, and reducing stress—can help lower your blood pressure.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • During the trial, after Cardi took the stand to deliver her testimony, several of her impassioned exchanges with the plaintiff's lawyer, Ron Rosen Janfaza, went viral due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced responses and animated expressions, including eye rolls and shrugs.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • As part of his conviction in a four-day trial in Kenton County Circuit Court, Simpson received a first-degree persistent felony offender enhancement.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • As of 2024, about 28% of young adults were living on their own with jobs – the most common milestone pattern among people ages 25 to 34.
    Sara Chernikoff, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The latest clash reflects a broader pattern, with Netanyahu’s government having chronic tensions with the military echelon since the cabinet was sworn in in January 2023, often dismissing military advice.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Tonyan, who had an excellent training camp and was the team’s top receiver in the preseason, is expected to return to the Chiefs.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The question isn't whether working memory training works.
    William Jones, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Another aspect that isn’t terribly sensible is the convertible top, which entails a bit of a ritual to erect, along with side curtains that more or less enclose occupants when inclement weather prevails.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Most children returned to school after Labor Day, the ritual marking the end of summer and the beginning of the academic year.
    Jeanne Allen, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practice. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

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