Dictionary

practise en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɹæktɪs/
• prăkʹtĭs
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English practizen, a variant of practisen, from Middle French pratiser, practiser, from Medieval Latin practizo, from Late Latin practico (“to do, perform, execute, propose, practise, exercise, be conversant with, contrive, conspire, etc.”), from prāctica (“practical affairs", "business”), from Ancient Greek πρᾱκτική (prāktikḗ), from πρᾱκτικός (prāktikós, “practical”), from πρᾱ́σσειν (prā́ssein, “to do”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per(h₂)- (“to go over, cross”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To repeat (an activity) as a way of improving one's skill in that activity.
   • The legislation also seeks to outlaw “balconing”, the practice of jumping into a swimming pool from a hotel balcony that kills several people each year. In future, hotels will have to evict anyone practising balconing or encouraging others to do so. 2020 January 17, Stephen Burgen, “Balearic islands pass bill targeting boozy Brits abroad”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 20 Mar 2020:
   • You should practise playing piano every day.
2. (intransitive) To repeat an activity in this way.
   • If you want to speak French well, you need to practise.
3. (transitive) To perform or observe in an habitual fashion.
   • He draws eclectically on studies of baboons, descriptive anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies and, in a few cases, the fossil record. With this biological framework in place, Corning endeavors to show that the capitalist system as currently practiced in the United States and elsewhere is manifestly unfair. 2012 March-April, John T. Jost, “Social Justice: Is It in Our Nature (and Our Future)?”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 13 Feb 2012, page 162:
   • They gather to practise religion every Saturday.
   • Hydromancy was extensively practised by the Egyptian priests and sorcerers[.] 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 39:
4. (transitive) To pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine).
   • She practised law for forty years before retiring.
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To conspire.
6. To put into practice; to carry out; to act upon; to commit; to execute; to do.
   • Aught but Talbot's shadow whereon to practise your severity. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
   • As this advice ye practise or neglect. 1715–1720, Homer, “Book VII”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC:
7. To make use of; to employ.
   • In malice to this good knight's wife, I practised Ubaldo and Ricardo to corrupt her. 1629, Philip Massinger, Nathan Field, The Picture:
8. To teach or accustom by practice; to train.
   • In church they are taught to love God; after church they are practised to love their neighbour. 1828, Walter Savage Landor, “Lord Brooke and Sir Philip Sidney”, in Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen, volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

practised · practise what one preaches · practising · practisable · practiseable · practisant · unpractised

Relateds

practicable · practitioner · practic · practical · practice

Translations (144)

ru попрактикова́ться (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · es practicar (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · nds-de öven (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · cs provozovat praxi (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · mi whakawai (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · nrf pratitchi (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · hak 練習 /练习 (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · fi harjoittaa (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · nrf pratitchi (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · cs vést praxi (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · grc μελετάω (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · fo venja (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · bg практику́вам (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · qu amañay (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · nn trene (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · th ฝึกหัด (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · grc πράσσω (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · da øve (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · tr pratik yapmak (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · eo ekzerci (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · nan-hbl 練習 /练习 (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · el μελετώ (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · gd gnàthaich (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · el κάνω εξάσκηση (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · cs praktikovat (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · nb trene (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · oc practicar (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · ja 練習する (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ca practicar (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · az məşq eləmək (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · cs cvičit (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · lo ຝຶກ (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · pt praticar (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · bg упражня́вам (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · bg упражня́ (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · la exercito (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ab аҽа́ршьцылара (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · fi harjoitella (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ga cleacht (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · pl ćwiczyć (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · grc μελετάω (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · grc ἀσκέω (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · hu gyakorol (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · lo ຊ້ອມ (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · de ausüben (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · om shaakaluu (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · gl practicar (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · my လေ့ကျင့် (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ru практикова́ться (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · pt treinar (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · sv utöva (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · haw hoʻomaʻamaʻa (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · grc νομίζω (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · pt praticar (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · sv öva (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · grc ἀσκέω (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · mi whakaharatau (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · sq rys (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ru попрактикова́ться (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · hy պարապել (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · el προπονούμαι (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · es practicar (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · av ругьун гьавизе (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · dng лянщи (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · es practicar (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · grc πράσσω (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · nn øve (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · pt praticar (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · tr pratik yapmak (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · de praktizieren (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · tyv шенеттинер (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · nds-de euven (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · de üben (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · fa تمرین کردن (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ab аҽазы́ҟаҵара (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ca practicar (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · az öyrənmək (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ru упражня́ться (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · es practicar (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · lo ຫັດ (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · os фӕлварын (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · pl zajmować się (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · fr pratiquer (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · nb øve (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · hy մարզվել (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · mi whakawaiwai (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · bg занима́вам се с (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · pl praktykować (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · gd gnàthaich (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · uk тренува́тися (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · hu gyakorol (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · fr pratiquer (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · it fare pratica (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · id melatih (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · sv praktisera (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · km ហាត់ (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · pl ćwiczyć (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · el ασκώ (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · vi luyện tập (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · yue 練習 /练习 (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · gd cleachd (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · ko 연습하다 (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · da udøve (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · nl beoefen (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · tyv өөренир (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · fr s'entrainer (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · mn дасгах (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · hu gyakorol (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · la factito (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · cy ymarfer (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · uk практикува́тися (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ru тренирова́ться (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · bg упражня́вам (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · gl practicar (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · ast prauticar (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · fr pratiquer (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · grc ποιέω (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · cs praktikovat (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · ca practicar (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · ca practicar (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · sv träna (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · fr exercer (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · gd cleachd (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ru практикова́ться (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ms latih (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · cmn 練習 /练习 (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · tyv мергежиир (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · th หัด (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · gd feuch (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · pt praticar (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · hy վարժվել (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · ast prauticar (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · pl praktykować (to pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine)) · nl oefenen (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · wuu 練習 /练习 (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · da træne (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · it esercitarsi (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · la exerceō (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · it praticare (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · uk практикува́тися (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · bg трени́рам се (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill) · sv utöva (to perform or observe in a habitual fashion) · eo praktiki (to perform or execute a craft or skill) · it addestrare (to repeat an activity as a way of improving one's skill)

practise en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɹæktɪs/
• prăkʹtĭs
• (US) audio

Meanings

1. (alt-of, obsolete, uncountable, usually) Obsolete spelling of practice.
   alt of practice
   • All wᶜʰ I have thus largely ſet down to ſhew the perfect conſonancie of our perſecuted Church to the doctrine of Scripture and Antiquity in this point, whereon ſo much depends for the ſtating & determining other differences, which have alſo a ſpecial influence on practiſe. 1654, H[enry] Hammond, “Of Christ’s Dying for None but the Elect”, in Of Fundamentals in a Notion Referring to Practise, London: […] J[ames] Flesher for Richard Royston, […], →OCLC, §. 7, page 135:
   • How to keep the corps ſeven dayes from corruption by anointing and waſhing, without exenteration, were an hazardable peece of art, in our choiſeſt practiſe. 1658, Thomas Browne, Hydriotaphia, Urne-Buriall, or, A Discourse of the Sepulchrall Urnes Lately Found in Norfolk […], London: […] Hen. Brome […], page 16:
   • [C]ome forth, / And taſt the ayre of Palaces, eate, drinke / The toyles of Empricks, and their boaſted practiſe: / Tincture of Pearle, an Corall, Gold, and Amber; […] 1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i:
   • And againe You ſaw that I ſpake to you from Heauen, therefore yee ſhall make no Gods of Golde nor ſiluer: as if he ſhould haue ſaide, my practiſe in ſpeakeing to you by voyce and not by Image ſhoulde teach you that by my word and not by image, I am be remembred. 1596, Geruase Babington, A Very Fruitfull Exposition of the Commaundements by Way of Questions and Answeres for Greater Plainnesse, R. Robinson, for Thomas Charde, page 45:
   • [T]he practiſe of the Normans, who as a monument of the Conqueſt, would have yoaked the Engliſh vnder their tongue, as they did vnder their command, by compelling them to teach their children in ſchooles nothing but French, […] 1605, M. N. [pseudonym; William Camden], “The Languages”, in Remaines of a Greater Worke, Concerning Britaine, […], London: […] G[eorge] E[ld] for Simon Waterson, →OCLC, page 22:
   • [T]heſe Muſhrome Lords (Spirituall onely in Title, but wholly Temporall in reality), firſt ſprouted up by inſenſible degrees in the Church of Christ; ſo it is moſt infallibly convinced of notorious falſehood, by the multitude of thoſe moſt execrable Treaſons, Treacheries, Conſpiracies, Rebellions, Contumacies, Inſurrections, Seditions, and Anti-Monarchiall practiſes of Lordly Prelates, againſt their Soveraignes, in all ages ſince they grew rich and potent, in all Kingdomes and Churches where they have been admitted; […] 1641, William Prynne, “The Prologve”, in The Antipathie of the English Lordly Prelacie, both to Regall Monarchy, and Civil Unity: or, An Historicall Collection of the Severall Execrable Treasons, Conspiracies, Rebellions, Seditions, State-schismes, Contumacies, Antimonarchicall Practices, & Oppressions of our English, British, French, Scottish, and Irish Lardly Prelates, against our Kingdomes, Lawes, Liberties; and of the Severall Warres, and Civil Dissentions Occasioned by Them, in or against our Realm, in Former and Latter Ages. … The First Part, volume I, London: Printed by authority for Michael Sparke, senior, →OCLC, page 1:
   • By heauen (fond vvretch) yͧ knovvſt not vvhat thou ſpeak'ſt, / Or elſe thou art ſuborn'd againſt his honor / In hatefull practiſe: […] c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 80, column 2:
2. (alt-of, misspelling, uncountable, usually) Misspelling of practice.
   alt of practice

Forms