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
To help people become more comfortable receiving feedback, organizations can: • Frame feedback as a growth opportunity rather than criticism. • Teach employees to separate feedback from personal identity. • Normalize the feedback process through regular practice. Jessica Kriegel, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 Unfortunately, many common practices in strength-training workouts can reinforce these imbalances. Dana Santas, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
The period has been practiced every spring for thousands of years to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025 The study will be led by a vaccine skeptic who was previously disciplined for practicing medicine without a license. Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for practice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practice
Noun
  • Listen · 2:05 min During a rehearsal break, Timbers, Groff, the choreographer Shannon Lewis and the music supervisor Andrew Resnick gathered to talk about six songs that are central to the show — and to understanding the layers and mysteries of Bobby Darin.
    Alan Light, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The whole eight-week rehearsal period was one of the greatest experiences of all of our lives.
    Mark Seliger, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This highlights the immense impact of AI on people’s spending habits.
    Roman Eloshvili, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Digestive issues: If protein intake is high and fiber intake is low, changes in bowel habits, like constipation or diarrhea, may occur.
    Lauren Panoff, MPH, RD, Verywell Health, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Some of those lifestyle changes involved optimizing her sleep, ensuring healthy indoor air, incorporating meditation to reduce stress and starting an exercise routine.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Overall, this low-profile keyboard elevates your routine with practical features that make each keystroke both satisfying and efficient.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Some Caribbean vacation destinations are 'compromised,' while others are safe: expert While many Caribbean islands are safe for spring breakers, tourists should still exercise caution in the region, according to former DEA Senior Special Agent Michael Brown.
    Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The actual memorandum of understanding was filed in court and said the agencies are exercising this authority under the president's executive order.
    Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Combs had offered up to $50 million to wait for his trial from his home on Star Island, but prosecutors insisted the musician was a threat to witnesses and victims.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Meta Platforms faces trial over allegations of illegally monopolizing social media by acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp.
    Jody Godoy, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Grid fleece weaves in about 5 percent elastane (aka Spandex) in a grid-like pattern (hence the name).
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The atra tree snake, named after the Latin word for black, was identified by its size, coloring, and scale pattern.
    Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • To meet the growing demand for nurses, Pennsylvania hospitals are partnering with colleges and universities to expand clinical training capacity, streamline pathways into nursing and develop innovative education models such as hybrid and accelerated programs.
    Kymberlee Montgomery, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
  • On April 4, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow the Trump administration to halt millions of dollars in teacher training grants.
    Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • From home births to birth centers, spiritual rituals to structural advocacy, their choices aren’t just personal, but collective.
    Stephanie Long, Essence, 17 Apr. 2025
  • According to a new WalletHub survey, many consumers are planning to skip some of the holiday's traditional rituals like dyeing eggs because of high prices.
    Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practice. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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