practice

UK: /ˈpræktɪs/ US: /ˈpræktɪs/ ,(prak′tis)

Inflections of 'practice' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

practices

v 3rd person singular (US)

practicing

v pres p (US)

practiced

v past (US)

practiced

v past p (US)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

prac•tice /ˈpræktɪs/   n., v., -ticed, -tic•ing. 
n. 

1. a way of doing something that is normal or customary:
   [uncountable] office practice.
2. a habit;
   custom:
   [countable] to make a practice of borrowing money.
3. the act of doing something systematically, as an exercise, for the purpose of learning it well:
   [uncountable] Throwing a good curve ball takes practice.
4. a condition arrived at by experience or exercise:
   [uncountable] I'm out of practice because I haven't played tennis in years.
5. the action or process of carrying something out:
   [uncountable] to put a scheme into practice.
6. the business of a profession, esp. law or medicine:
   [countable] a law practice.

v. 

7. to perform or do (something) as a habit or usually:
   [~ + object] to practice a regimen of exercise.
8. to follow or observe as a habit or by custom: [~ + object]
   to practice one's religion.
   [no object]
   He's a Catholic but he's no longer practicing.
9. to do as a profession, art, or occupation: [~ + object]
   He practices law.
   [no object]
   He's no longer practicing as an attorney.
10. to perform on or do repeatedly in order to gain skill or ability: [~ + object]
    practiced the trumpet every day.
    [no object]
    practices on the trombone every day.

Also,[Brit.,] practise (for defs. 11-19. ). Synonyms

See custom.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prac•tice  (prak′tis), n., v., -ticed, -tic•ing. 
n. 

1. habitual or customary performance;
   operation:
   office practice.
2. habit;
   custom:
   It is not the practice here for men to wear long hair.
3. repeated performance or systematic exercise for the purpose of acquiring skill or proficiency:
   Practice makes perfect.
4. condition arrived at by experience or exercise:
   She refused to play the piano, because she was out of practice.
5. the action or process of performing or doing something:
   to put a scheme into practice; the shameful practices of a blackmailer.
6. the exercise or pursuit of a profession or occupation, esp. law or medicine:
   She plans to set up practice in her hometown.
7. the business of a professional person:
   The doctor wanted his daughter to take over his practice when he retired.
8. Law the established method of conducting legal proceedings.
9. [Archaic.] plotting;
   intrigue;
   trickery.
10. Usually, practices. [Archaic.] intrigues;
    plots.

v.t. 

11. to perform or do habitually or usually:
    to practice a strict regimen.
12. to follow or observe habitually or customarily:
    to practice one's religion.
13. to exercise or pursue as a profession, art, or occupation:
    to practice law.
14. to perform or do repeatedly in order to acquire skill or proficiency:
    to practice the violin.
15. to train or drill (a person, animal, etc.) in something in order to give proficiency.

v.i. 

16. to do something habitually or as a practice.
17. to pursue a profession, esp. law or medicine.
18. to exercise oneself by repeated performance in order to acquire skill:
    to practice at shooting.
19. [Archaic.] to plot or conspire.

Also,[Brit.,] practise (for defs. 11–19).

• Greek prāktiké̄ noun, nominal use of feminine of prāktikós practic; see -ize; (noun, nominal) late Middle English, derivative of the verb, verbal
• Medieval Latin prāctizāre, alteration of prācticāre, derivative of prāctica practical work
• Middle French pra(c)tiser)
• (verb, verbal) late Middle English practisen, practizen (1375–1425

prac′tic•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. See custom. 
• 3. application. See exercise. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

practice / ˈpræktɪs/ noun

1. a usual or customary action or proceeding: it was my practice to rise at six, she made a practice of walking to work
2. repetition or exercise of an activity in order to achieve mastery and fluency
3. the condition of having mastery of a skill or activity through repetition (esp in the phrases in practice, out of practice)
4. the exercise of a profession: he set up practice as a lawyer
5. the act of doing something: we put the plan into practice
6. the established method of conducting proceedings in a court of law

verb

1. the US spelling of practise

Etymology: 16th Century: from Medieval Latin practicāre to practise, from Greek praktikē practical science, practical work, from prattein to do, act

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prac•tise  (prak′tis), v.t., v.i., -tised, -tis•ing. 

1. British Terms practice.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

practise, practice / ˈpræktɪs/ verb

1. to do or cause to do repeatedly in order to gain skill
2. (transitive) to do (something) habitually or frequently: to practise censorship
3. to observe or pursue (something, such as a religion): to practise Christianity
4. to work at (a profession, job, etc): to practise medicine
5. followed by on or upon: to take advantage of (someone, someone's credulity, etc)

Etymology: 15th Century: see practice