practice 1 of 2

noun

variants also practise
Definition of practicenext
1
as in rehearsal
a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance we held one last practice before the big concert

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in habit
a usual manner of behaving or doing the store's practice has always been to honor all major credit cards

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in routine
something done over and over in order to develop skill practice makes perfect

Synonyms & Similar Words

practice

2 of 2

verb

ˈprak-təs How to pronounce practice (audio)
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
The Horned Frogs will return to practice at 6 p.m. Friday. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2025 The practice was used in 2018 during the first Trump term, when the Senate voted on the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court as an associate justice. —Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
Wu has ignored the demands, saying the project needs to be ongoing to ensure the professional women’s soccer team can start playing and practicing there in 2026. —Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2025 While filming the series, Pierce would practice his accent at home around Keely. —Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for practice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for practice
  1. rehearsal
  2. habit
  3. routine
  4. exercise
  5. trial
  6. pattern
  7. training
  8. ritual
Noun
  • The whole eight-week rehearsal period was one of the greatest experiences of all of our lives.
    — Mark Seliger, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Definition of rehearsal
Noun
  • Adopt or maintain healthy habits: Stress and illness can trigger allergic asthma.
    — Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Through adapting to changing work cultures and embracing healthier work habits, professionals can create a more fulfilling and sustainable balance between work and life.
    — Raquel Gomes, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of habit
Noun
  • Your daily routine includes preparing patients for the examination, ensuring proper position, operating the machine, and protecting patients from radiation.
    — Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • After her skincare routine, Olivia gets her hair and makeup done, steams her voice, and puts on her onstage outfit.
    — Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of routine
Verb
  • 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
  • Throughout history, a lot of musicians will not exercise.
    — David Browne, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of exercise
Noun
  • He was indicted on charges of murder-for-hire and drug distribution and is awaiting trial, according to prosecutors.
    — Real-Time News team, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch UConn vs. UCLA with Fubo’s free trial.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of trial
Noun
  • Lavalier microphone: Polar pattern: Omnidirectional.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The pattern was expected to break up on Sunday, with rains finally pushing east toward Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.
    — Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of pattern
Noun
  • Additionally, students and alumni will have access to professional headshots and Big Interview, an AI online interview practice training system.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Organizations and governments should begin integrating quantum considerations into their strategies, investing in post-quantum cryptography, and providing ongoing training to their security professionals.
    — Chris Dimitriadis, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of training
Noun
  • In 2025, that emotional fast food ritual is back, this time pixelated and playfully spicy.
    — Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The fitness influencer recently achieved immense internet fame after a Feb. 7 video showcasing his six-hour wellness ritual recirculated across different social media platforms.
    — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of ritual

Browse Nearby Words

practically
practice
practiced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practice. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on practice

Nglish: Translation of practice for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about practice

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