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
Capital One was the first major U.S. bank to eliminate all overdraft fees, choosing to waive the industry practice of charging hefty fees for transactions that exceed a customer's balance. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025 Four practices into spring camp, Reddick isn’t concerned with those types of figures. Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
Get ready to practice your knife skills All products are independently selected by our editors. Noah Kaufman, Bon Appétit, 20 Mar. 2025 The man's lawyers, in a last-ditch appeal, also argued the method would infringe on Hoffman's freedom to practice religion, specifically his Buddhist breathing and meditation in the moments leading up to death. arkansasonline.com, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for practice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practice
Noun
  • As rehearsals unfold under the director’s bizarre, often humiliating techniques, the actors clash over their wildly opposing philosophies, each trying to outdo the other while navigating the absurdity of the creative process.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Arndt got the gig in spring 2015 four days before rehearsals began when Kenneth Welsh bowed out.
    Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • As global media and consumption habits evolve, the NBA wishes to capitalize on opportunities to produce games in new and unique ways, the commissioner said.
    Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The teen’s happy image, usually in a red polo shirt and carrying a backpack, is as popular in souvenir shops across town as Francis in his simple brown habit.
    Time, Time, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Despite multiple promising routines in the practice sessions, Lee’s low score of 11.800 was not enough to send the Olympic Champion to Azerbaijan.
    Caroline Price, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Between the influx of personal trainers, personal coaches and personal nutritionists, baseball is numb to the player whose routine is not that of his team’s.
    Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Throughout history, a lot of musicians will not exercise.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2025
  • In fact, tribal nations exercised environmental sovereignty in ways that restored federal recognition and influenced broader U.S. environmental law and policy.
    Alyssa Kreikemeier, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Sharon is the first member of the coven to die after the first of the five trials; meanwhile, the rest of the coven fends off further danger, faces new challenges, and even adds a new member to their ranks, replacing poor Sharon almost immediately.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The midfielder travelled to the United States for separate trial periods but decided against a move.
    Colin Millar, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • With the data collected over the years, researchers were able to develop a clearer picture of the sharks’ movements and behavior patterns in the area.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Choose from 31 colors and patterns, and enjoy the flowy material that one shopper called lightweight, comfortable, and easy to pack.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Even workforce training is developing, with VR simulations preparing employees for complex scenarios within a safe environment.
    Oleg Fonarov, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The program will accept up to 20 candidates who demonstrate a passion for visual storytelling, have on-set experience and are looking for additional training to advance their education, craft and career.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In this case, the prayer is the Taraweeh, a nightly ritual of Ramadan.
    Eric Nagourney, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Build rituals that connect your team across time zones.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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