practice

1 of 2

verb

prac·​tice ˈprak-təs 

variants or less commonly practise

practiced also practised; practicing also practising

transitive verb

1

a

: carry out, apply

practice what you preach

b

: to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually

practice politeness

c

: to be professionally engaged in

practice medicine

2

a

: to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient

practice the act

b

: to train by repeated exercises

practice pupils in penmanship

3

obsolete : plot

intransitive verb

1

: to do repeated exercises for proficiency

2

: to pursue a profession actively

3

archaic : intrigue

4

: to do something customarily

5

: to take advantage of someone

he practised on their credulity with huge success

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

practicer noun

practice

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly practise

1

a

: actual performance or application

ready to carry out in practice what they advocated in principle

b

: a repeated or customary action

had this irritating practice

c

: the usual way of doing something

local practices

d

: the form, manner, and order of conducting legal suits and prosecutions

2

a

: systematic exercise for proficiency

practice makes perfect

b

: the condition of being proficient through systematic exercise

get in practice

3

a

: the continuous exercise of a profession

b

: a professional business

especially : one constituting an incorporeal property

Synonyms

Verb

• exercise
• rehearse
• run over

Noun

• dry run
• rehearsal
• trial

Choose the Right Synonym for practice

habit, practice, usage, custom, wont mean a way of acting fixed through repetition.

habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

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

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

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

Verb

To be a good musician, you have to practice a lot.

Have you been practicing your lines for the play?

She had to practice flying in various weather conditions before she could get her pilot's license.

Grandmother taught us to practice good manners.

Practice what you preach—don't smoke if you tell your children not to smoke.

Noun

Being a good musician takes a lot of practice.

I'm sure you'll learn your lines for the play with enough practice.

They'll get better with practice.

I'm late for trumpet practice.

The marching band has practice every Wednesday afternoon.

The team's practices usually last two hours.

She has made a practice of volunteering at a homeless shelter one weekend a month.

The country's poor sanitation practices have led to widespread disease.

Burial practices vary around the world.

It is common practice among my friends to not use capital letters in e-mail.

See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Therapists encouraged Sophie and the other teenagers to practice short-​term goals — complete a school assignment, engage more with friends, exercise — and to understand that there’s more than one way to see a situation or solve a problem, something Binnig reinforced in her sessions. —Maggie Jones, New York Times, 17 May 2023

Despite that destabilizing regimen, Ms. Silverstein maintained a vigorous life, returning to finish law school, then practicing briefly before abandoning the profession to raise a son, Casey, and, eventually, to write. —Alex Williams, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2023

The process of distributing contracts and retaining employees for next year would have been much more difficult for Hamburg had the district not practiced strong communication through the years, the superintendent said. —Josh Snyder, Arkansas Online, 15 May 2023

Parents of kids who have peanut allergies have to practice constant vigilance, whether that means carefully skimming the ingredients on food packaging or warning teachers about the dangers of unexpected treats at school. —Brittany Trang, STAT, 10 May 2023

While there, Princess Kate, Prince William, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte all practiced their archery skills. —Harper's BAZAAR, 8 May 2023

There have been talks about where the school may play and practice, but those and many other details are still in the works. —Ben Thomas | [e-mail], al, 4 May 2023

While most kids were practicing multiplication, Prince Charles was busy becoming Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester. —Women's Health, 3 May 2023

But Baker said the study’s findings could change how more hospitals practice caring for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome, which primarily occurs in infants who were exposed to opioids while in utero. —Carma Hassan, CNN, 30 Apr. 2023

Noun

And Morris tries to stay as current as possible on developments in NIL practice, of which there have been many. —Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 17 May 2023

Both GoodRx and BetterHelp said at the time that the practices in question were common for the industry. —Tatum Hunter, Washington Post, 17 May 2023

And then after batting practices, a hitters meeting and that’s when all the position players get in there and offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker heads that up along with hitting coach Tim Hyers. —Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 17 May 2023

In many cases, high functioning depression can be turned around with a combination of psychotherapy, personal introspection, and practices like sleep, movement, connection, and hobbies. —Sherry Walling, Fortune Well, 17 May 2023

One afternoon during youth soccer practice, our coach called a huddle. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023

Fans will not only enjoy two days of live music, local food and beverage, but also have the opportunity to learn about healthy habits, practices, and mindfulness. —Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 16 May 2023

Keep in Mind The rotating handles might take some practice. —Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2023

Like an anthropologist, a therapist must learn to speak the local language of the client's inner culture and understand the symbolic systems, ritual practices and dominant themes that reverberate in different ways in different domains. —Rebecca J. Lester, Scientific American, 16 May 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English practisen, from Middle French practiser, from Medieval Latin practizare, alteration of practicare, from practica practice, noun, from Late Latin practice, from Greek praktikē, from feminine of praktikos

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing practice

• good practice
• in practice
• family practice
• practice law
• practice makes perfect
• put (something) into practice
• group practice
• out of practice
• practice deception on
• practice teaching
• practice-teach
• bad practice
• general practice
• sharp practice
• stay/keep in practice
• private practice
• practice what one preaches

See More

• good practice
• in practice
• family practice
• practice law
• practice makes perfect
• put (something) into practice
• group practice
• out of practice
• practice deception on
• practice teaching
• practice-teach
• bad practice
• general practice
• sharp practice
• stay/keep in practice
• private practice
• practice what one preaches

See More

Kids Definition

practice

1 of 2 verb

prac·​tice

variants also practise

ˈprak-təs 

practiced or practised; practicing or practising

1

: to perform or work at over and over so as to become skilled

practice juggling

2

: carry out, apply

practice what you preach

3

: to do or perform often or usually

practice politeness

4

: to engage in or work at as a profession

practice medicine

practicer noun

practice

2 of 2 noun

variants also practise

1

a

: actual performance or application

b

: a repeated or usual action

it was our practice to rise early

c

: the usual way of doing something

local practice

2

a

: action done over and over in order to acquire skill

practice makes perfect

b

: the condition of being skilled through practice

get in practice

3

a

: continuous work in a profession

the practice of law

b

: a professional business

the doctor has expanded her practice

Medical Definition

practice

1 of 2 verb

prac·​tice

variants or practise

ˈprak-təs 

practiced or practised; practicing or practising

transitive verb

: to be professionally engaged in

practice medicine

intransitive verb

: to pursue a profession actively

practice

2 of 2 noun

variants also practise

1

: the continuous exercise of a profession

2

: a professional business

especially : one constituting an incorporeal property

the doctor sold his practice and retired

Legal Definition

practice

noun

prac·​tice

1

: the form and manner of conducting judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings

2

a

: the continuous exercise of a profession

also : the performance of services that are considered to require an appropriate license

engaged in the unauthorized practice of law

b

: a professional business