practice

²practice

noun

Definition of PRACTICE

1

a : actual performance or application <ready to carry out in practice what they advocated in principle> b : a repeated or customary action <had this irritating practice> c : the usual way of doing something <local practices> d : the form, manner, and order of conducting legal suits and prosecutions

2

a : systematic exercise for proficiency <practice makes perfect> b : the condition of being proficient through systematic exercise <get in practice>

3

a : the continuous exercise of a profession b : a professional business; especially : one constituting an incorporeal property

Variants of PRACTICE

practice also practise

Examples of PRACTICE

1. Being a good musician takes a lot of practice.
2. I'm sure you'll learn your lines for the play with enough practice.
3. They'll get better with practice.
4. I'm late for trumpet practice.
5. The marching band has practice every Wednesday afternoon.
6. The team's practices usually last two hours.
7. She has made a practice of volunteering at a homeless shelter one weekend a month.
8. The country's poor sanitation practices have led to widespread disease.
9. Burial practices vary around the world.
10. It is common practice among my friends to not use capital letters in e-mail.

First Known Use of PRACTICE

15th century

Related to PRACTICE

Synonyms: dry run, rehearsal (also practise), trial

Related Words: dress rehearsal; preview; run-through, walk-through; drill, exercise

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at habit