What does "practice" mean?
Repetition of an activity to improve a skill.
Practice
/ˈpɹæktɪs/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Top 500 ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Repetition of an activity to improve a skill.
- Grammar: practice is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: drill, exercise, a lot of homework, academic assignment.
- Useful contrasts: actual assignment, district policy, economic concept.
- Usage evidence: In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.
How to use "practice"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "practice" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "practice" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "practice" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "practice" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "practice" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "drill" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "practice", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Repetition of an activity to improve a skill. uncountable, usually
"He will need lots of practice with the lines before he performs them."
- 2 a customary way of operation or behavior wordnet
- 3 An organized event for the purpose of performing such repetition. uncountable, usually
"Being on a team is hard: you're always having to go to practice while everyone else is taking it easy."
- 4 translating an idea into action wordnet
- 5 The ongoing pursuit of a craft or profession, particularly in medicine or the fine arts. especially, uncountable, usually
"Which is the most demanding? I think that my practice as an artist is 'stronger' because it is the practice that best fuels and balances myself and that generates new knowledge for my other work as both arts educator and creative arts therapist."
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 the exercise of a profession wordnet
- 7 A place where a professional service is provided, such as a general practice. countable, usually
"She ran a thriving medical practice."
- 8 systematic training by multiple repetitions wordnet
- 9 The observance of religious duties that a church requires of its members. uncountable, usually
- 10 knowledge of how something is usually done wordnet
- 11 A customary action, habit, or behaviour; a manner or routine. uncountable, usually
"It is the usual practice of employees there to wear neckties only when meeting with customers."
- 12 Actual operation or experiment, in contrast to theory. uncountable, usually
"That may work in theory, but will it work in practice?"
- 13 The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts. uncountable, usually
"This firm of solicitors is involved in family law practice."
- 14 Skilful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; stratagem; artifice. uncountable, usually
"He sought to have that by practice which he could not by prayer."
- 15 An easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business. uncountable, usually
Verb
- 1 Alternative spelling of practise. US, alt-of, alternative
"I have been a liberal housekeeper enough, but I shall not be ashamed to practice economy now."
- 2 learn by repetition wordnet
- 3 engage in a rehearsal (of) wordnet
- 4 engage in or perform wordnet
- 5 avail oneself to wordnet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
actual assignmentdistrict policyeconomic concepteconomic theory
Example
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "practice"?
Common synonyms include: drill, exercise, a lot of homework, academic assignment, academic technique, accepted rule.
How do you use "practice" in a sentence?
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.
How do you pronounce "practice"?
Pronounced /ˈpɹæktɪs/.
Etymology
The noun is from Middle English practice, practique, practyse, from the verb; also compare Medieval Latin prāctica. The verb is from Middle English practice, practise, practize, practyse, from Middle French pratiser, practiser, alteration of practiquer, from Medieval Latin prācticāre, from Late Latin prācticus, from Ancient Greek πρακτικός (praktikós). The spelling practice is attested once in Middle English for both the noun and the verb. The noun began to be assimilated in spelling to nouns in -ice; practise (noun) is now obsolete.