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
Venardos was part of Voigt’s staff as an assistant coach for several years, after being a practice player for both the beach and indoor volleyball teams before graduating in 2018. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 24 Sep. 2025 Plainclothes, a new movie written and directed by Carmen Emmi, takes viewers back to the 1990s, when such practices were even more widespread. James Factora, Them., 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Royals will continue to practice on Wednesday, Reid said. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025 The former second-round draft pick has yet to practice even in a limited fashion since his injury. Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 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
  • Sadly, the effort to relocate those mice turned out to be a daily routine with no foreseeable end.
    Irv Erdos, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Yet unlike romantic relationships (which most people naturally weave into their daily routines), our platonic ones rarely get that same kind of priority.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The trial took place during NATO’s Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Unmanned Systems exercise on September 23.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
  • That combination of product clarity, executional rigor, and managerial depth made the asset attractive to buyers and created the optionality the founders later exercised.
    Jon Stojan, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Most offer free trials, though access may vary depending on local ABC availability.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The plaintiffs argued that defense attorneys cannot legally present new facts when there has already been another trial that established a set of facts.
    City News Service, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Take Khaite’s fall 2025 runway, where an argyle knit was paired with leather pants and an oversized fur coat—an unexpected clash that made the pattern feel new again.
    Minty Mellon, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
  • These gaps reflect broader religious patterns in American life.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 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 30 Sep. 2025.

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