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

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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
In the months leading up to the tournament, her team had practiced together four times a week. — Ryan Lenora Brown, NPR, 13 Apr. 2025 David Geier was fined by Maryland regulators for practicing medicine without a license, including for prescribing the drug Lupron to autistic children. — Alexander Tin, CBS News, 13 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
  • 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
Definition of rehearsal
Noun
  • Adopt or maintain healthy habits: Stress and illness can trigger allergic asthma.
    — Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Other challenges include evolving habits and the need to bring decorative lighting back into focus, reaffirming its role in contemporary interiors.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of habit
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
Definition of routine
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
Definition of exercise
Noun
  • Solis first took the stand in the 2023 Burke corruption trial as a defense witness.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
  • But Thompson said these four trials paint an incomplete picture.
    — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of trial
Noun
  • The front facade will be a full story taller than its neighbors, and while the materials and windows try to mimic the patterns and rhythms of its older neighbors, the design falls flat in its girth and articulation.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 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
  • 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
  • The group was recently able to give almost $690,000 to the San Diego College of Continuing Education for a job training program.
    — Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 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
  • Your coffee ritual deserves more than a cluttered corner of the kitchen counter.
    — Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of ritual

Browse Nearby Words

practically
practice
practiced
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Cite this Entry

“Practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/practice. Accessed 18 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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