Definition of PRACTICE

practice

Plural: practices

Noun

  • a customary way of operation or behavior
    • "it is their practice to give annual raises"
  • systematic training by multiple repetitions
    • "practice makes perfect"
  • translating an idea into action
    • "a hard theory to put into practice"
  • the exercise of a profession
    • "the practice of the law"
    • "I took over his practice when he retired"
  • knowledge of how something is usually done
    • "it is not the local practice to wear shorts to dinner"
  • Repetition of an activity to improve a skill.
  • An organized event for the purpose of performing such repetition.
  • The ongoing pursuit of a craft or profession, particularly in medicine or the fine arts.
  • A place where a professional service is provided, such as a general practice.
  • The observance of religious duties that a church requires of its members.
  • A customary action, habit, or behaviour; a manner or routine.
  • Actual operation or experiment, in contrast to theory.
  • 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.
  • Skilful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; stratagem; artifice.
  • An easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.

Verb

Verb Forms: practiced, practicing, practices

  • To perform an activity repeatedly to improve skill.
  • carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions
    • "practice law"
  • learn by repetition
    • "Pianists practice scales"
  • engage in a rehearsal (of)
  • avail oneself to
    • "practice a religion"
    • "practice non-violent resistance"
  • engage in or perform
    • "practice safe sex"
  • Alternative spelling of practise.

Examples

  • Being on a team is hard: you're always having to go to practice while everyone else is taking it easy.
  • He will need lots of practice with the lines before he performs them.
  • I have choir practice every Sunday after church.
  • It is good practice to check each door and window before leaving.
  • It is the usual practice of employees there to wear neckties only when meeting with customers.
  • She ran a thriving medical practice.
  • That may work in theory, but will it work in practice?
  • This firm of solicitors is involved in family law practice.
  • You need to PRACTICE daily to become a champion Words With Friends player.

Origin / 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.

Synonyms

apply, commit, do, drill, exercise, pattern, practice session, practise, praxis, recitation, rehearse, use, custom, dry run, general practice, habit, rehearsal, routine, training, trial, wone, wont, workout

Antonyms

theory

Scrabble Score: 14

practice: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
practice: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
practice: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 17

practice: valid Words With Friends Word