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practice

n. · v.
US //ˈpɹæktəs// UK //pɹˈæktɪs// prac·tice
  1. 1 improving a skill (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    doing an activity many times so that you become better at it.

    the repetitive performance of an activity or exercise for the purpose of acquiring or perfecting a skill.

    Example

    If you want to play the piano well, you need a lot of practice.

    Example

    The athlete attributed her record-breaking performance to years of rigorous daily practice and mental conditioning.
    Pitfall
    I need more practice of my English.
    I need more practice with my English.

    Use 'practice with' or 'practice in' when referring to a specific subject or skill.

  2. 2 a regular habit or custom (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    something that people usually do in a particular society or situation.

    a customary action, habit, or way of doing something; a conventional procedure within a group.

    Example

    It is a common practice to shake hands when you meet someone new.

    Example

    The company's hiring practices have come under scrutiny for failing to promote diversity within the senior management team.
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  1. 3 professional business (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the work or the office of a professional person, like a doctor or a lawyer.

    the exercise of a profession, or the place where such a professional service is conducted.

    Example

    After finishing medical school, she joined a small dental practice in the city.

    Example

    The legal practice specialised in intellectual property rights, representing several high-profile tech firms in the region.
  2. 4 action vs theory (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the actual doing of something rather than just the ideas about it.

    the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories about it.

    Example

    The idea sounds good, but it might be difficult to put into practice.

    Example

    While the economic model was elegant in theory, it proved entirely unworkable when put into practice during the fiscal crisis.
  3. 5 to do repeatedly (v.)
    A1 Beginner American English

    to do something regularly to improve your skill.

    to perform an activity or exercise regularly in order to improve or maintain one's proficiency.

    Example

    You should practice your guitar for at least thirty minutes every day.

    Example

    The choir spent the entire afternoon practicing the difficult harmonies for the upcoming winter concert.

    Usage

    In American English, 'practice' is used for both the noun and the verb; in British English, the verb is spelled 'practise'.

    Teacher's tip

    Advise students that while the US spelling uses 'c' for both, British English follows the 'advice/advise' pattern where the noun has a 'c' and the verb has an 's'.
Origin

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.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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