Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense practises, present participle practising, past tense, past participle practisedregional note: in AM, use practice
1. verb
If you practise something, you keep doing it regularly in order to be able to do it better.
Lauren practises the piano every day. [VERB noun]
When she wanted to get something right, she would practise and practise and practise. [VERB]
Synonyms: rehearse, study, prepare, perfect More Synonyms of practise
2. See also practised
3. verb
When people practise something such as a custom, craft, or religion, they take part in the activities associated with it.
...countries which practise multi-party politics. [VERB noun]
Acupuncture was practised in China as long ago as the third millennium BC. [VERB noun]
He was brought up in a family which practised traditional Judaism. [VERB noun]
practisingadjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
The church insisted all employees must be practising Christians.
4. verb [usually passive]
If something cruel is regularly done to people, you can say that it is practised on them.
There are consistent reports of electrical torture being practised on inmates. [beV-ed + on]
5. verb
Someone who practises medicine or law works as a doctor or a lawyer.
In Belgium only qualified doctors may practise alternative medicine. [VERB noun]
He practised as a lawyer there until his retirement. [VERB + as]
The ways in which solicitors practise are varied. [VERB]
An art historian and collector, he was also a practising architect. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: work at, pursue, carry on, undertake More Synonyms of practise
6. to practise what you preach
More Synonyms of practise
practise in British English
or US 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. (foll byon or upon)
to take advantage of (someone, someone's credulity, etc)
Word origin
C15: see practice
practise in American English
(ˈpræktɪs)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈpractised or ˈpractising
British
practice
More idioms containing
practise
practise what you preach
Examples of 'practise' in a sentence
practise
When people practise a task such as mental arithmetic it becomes automatic and unconscious, freeing up space in the working memory for more complex calculations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When people practise a task such as mental arithmetic it becomes automatic and unconscious,freeing up space in the working memory for more complex calculations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The pair are good friends and regularly practise together.
The Sun (2012)
Young people must practise responsible behaviour on social networking sites.
The Sun (2009)
We are able to practise our religion in peace.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Ninety per cent of practising lawyers agree.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This background enabled him to practise herbal medicine.
Michael Burleigh Earthly Powers: Religion and Politics in Europe from the Enlightenment to the GreatWar (2005)
Find techniques that have worked and practise them regularly.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
How people practise skill and knowledge acquisition is crucial.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The woman is shocked that he is still practising medicine.
The Sun (2010)
But only if you use it regularly and practise a variety of the activities on offer.
The Sun (2009)
He put a high value on caring for people and practising good manners.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The origins of many of the religions practised here remain shrouded in obscurity.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
His stint as a naval medical officer was the last time he actively practised medicine.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
People should be free to practise their religion as long as they allow others to do the same.
The Sun (2009)
The chance to influence the highest court in the land is the closest a practising lawyer can come to making law.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Maybe business people should go into universities and teach business skills just as practising doctors and lawyers teach medical and law students.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Your boyfriend is practised in the art of deception and you're best off without him.
The Sun (2013)
She can't practise our art as she is now.
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
In Wasps they face a team well practised in the art of winning when it matters.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
If you practise regularly, the better you will become and the more you will want to play.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Did they take much practise?
The Sun (2010)
I would practise, take a nap and then go golfing.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
practise
British English: practise /ˈpræktɪs/ VERB
If you practise something, you keep doing it regularly in order to do it better.
She practises the piano every day.
When she wanted to get something right, she would practise and practise and practise.
American English: practice
Arabic: يُـمَارِس
Brazilian Portuguese: praticar
Chinese: 练习
Croatian: vježbati
Czech: procvičit
Danish: øve (sig)
Dutch: oefenen
European Spanish: practicar
Finnish: harjoittaa
French: pratiquer
German: üben
Greek: εξασκούμαι
Italian: esercitarsi
Japanese: 練習する
Korean: 실행하다
Norwegian: øve
Polish: zastosować w praktyce
European Portuguese: praticar
Romanian: a exersa
Russian: практиковать
Latin American Spanish: practicar
Swedish: öva
Thai: ฝึกฝน
Turkish: pratik yapmak
Ukrainian: практикувати
Vietnamese: luyện tập
Chinese translation of 'practise'
practise
or (US) practice
(ˈpræktɪs)
vt
(= work on)[sport, technique, musical instrument, piece of music]练(練)习(習) (liànxí)
⇒ Acupuncture was first practised in China in the third millennium BC.公元前3000年中国人首次使用针灸。 (Gōngyuán qián sānqiān nián Zhōngguórén shǒucì shǐyòng zhēnjiǔ.)
[medicine, law]从(從)业 (cóngyè)
vi
(= train) (in music, theatre, sport) 练(練)习(習) (liànxí)
[lawyer, doctor, dentist]从(從)业(業) (cóngyè)
to practise as a lawyer做律师(師) (zuò lǜshī)
1 (verb)
Definition
to do repeatedly in order to gain skill
Lauren practises the concerto every day.
Synonyms
rehearse
A group of actors are rehearsing a play about Joan of Arc.
study
prepare
giving the players a chance to prepare for the match
perfect
He worked hard to perfect his drawing technique.
repeat
I repeated the story to a delighted audience.
go through
polish
Polish up your writing skills on a one-week course.
go over
refine
Surgical techniques are constantly being refined.
run through
2 (verb)
Definition
to do regularly
practising for a gym display
Synonyms
do
I could have done the crossword.
train
They have spent a year training for the race.
exercise
She exercises two or three times a week.
work out
I work out at a gym twice a week.
drill
He drills the choir to a high standard.
warm up
Make sure you warm up before you start the exercises.
keep your hand in
3 (verb)
Definition
to take part in or follow (a religion etc.)
Astronomy continued to be practised in Byzantium.
Synonyms
carry out
follow
I hope other women will follow my example.
apply
The government appears to be applying the same principle.
perform
people who have performed outstanding acts of bravery
observe
Forcing motorists to observe speed restrictions is difficult.
engage in
live up to
put into practice
4 (verb)
Definition
to work at (a profession)
He practised as a lawyer for thirty years.
Synonyms
work at
pursue
Japan would continue to pursue the policies laid down at the summit.
carry on
undertake
specialize in
ply your trade
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apply
Definition
to put to practical use
The government appears to be applying the same principle.
Synonyms
use,
exercise,
carry out,
employ,
engage,
implement,
practise,
execute,
assign,
administer,
exert,
enact,
utilize,
bring to bear,
put to use,
bring into play
in the sense of drill
Definition
to teach by rigorous exercises or training
He drills the choir to a high standard.
Synonyms
train,
coach,
teach,
exercise,
discipline,
practise,
instruct,
rehearse
in the sense of exercise
Definition
to practise using in order to develop or train
She exercises two or three times a week.
Synonyms
train,
work out,
practise,
drill,
keep fit,
inure,
do exercises
Synonyms of 'practise'
practise
Explore 'practise' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of follow
Definition
to accept the ideas or beliefs of
I hope other women will follow my example.
Synonyms
copy,
imitate,
emulate,
mimic,
model,
adopt,
live up to,
take a leaf out of someone's book,
take as an example,
pattern yourself upon
in the sense of observe
Definition
to keep (a law or custom)
Forcing motorists to observe speed restrictions is difficult.
Synonyms
comply with,
keep,
follow,
mind,
respect,
perform,
carry out,
honour,
fulfil,
discharge,
obey,
heed,
conform to,
adhere to,
abide by
in the sense of perfect
Definition
to improve to one's satisfaction
He worked hard to perfect his drawing technique.
Synonyms
improve,
develop,
polish,
elaborate,
refine,
cultivate,
hone
in the sense of perform
Definition
to carry out (an action)
people who have performed outstanding acts of bravery
Synonyms
do,
achieve,
carry out,
effect,
complete,
satisfy,
observe,
fulfil,
accomplish,
execute,
bring about,
pull off,
act out,
transact
in the sense of polish
Definition
to make or become elegant or refined
Polish up your writing skills on a one-week course.
Synonyms
perfect,
improve,
enhance,
refine,
finish,
correct,
cultivate,
brush up,
touch up,
emend
in the sense of prepare
giving the players a chance to prepare for the match
Synonyms
practise,
get ready,
train,
exercise,
warm up,
get into shape
in the sense of pursue
Definition
to follow the guidelines of (a plan or policy)
Japan would continue to pursue the policies laid down at the summit.
Synonyms
engage in,
follow,
perform,
conduct,
wage,
tackle,
take up,
work at,
carry on,
practise,
participate in,
prosecute,
ply,
go in for,
apply yourself to
in the sense of refine
Definition
to improve
Surgical techniques are constantly being refined.
Synonyms
improve,
perfect,
polish,
temper,
elevate,
hone,
fine-tune,
cultivate
in the sense of repeat
Definition
to tell to another person (the secrets told to one by someone else)
I repeated the story to a delighted audience.
Synonyms
retell,
relate,
quote,
renew,
echo,
replay,
reproduce,
rehearse,
recite,
duplicate,
redo,
rerun,
reshow
in the sense of train
Definition
to do exercises and prepare for a specific purpose
They have spent a year training for the race.
Synonyms
exercise,
prepare,
work out,
practise,
do exercise,
get into shape
Additional synonyms
in the sense of warm up
Definition
to prepare for a race, sporting contest, or exercise routine by doing gentle exercises immediately beforehand
Make sure you warm up before you start the exercises.