exercise

[ ek-ser-sahyz ]

noun

1. bodily or mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement of health:

   Walking is good exercise.

   Synonyms: gymnastics, calisthenics, activity

   Antonyms: inaction

2. something done or performed as a means of practice or training:

   exercises for the piano.

3. a putting into action, use, operation, or effect:

   the exercise of caution.

   Synonyms: performance, practice, application, employment

4. a written composition, musical piece, or artistic work executed for practice or to illustrate a particular aspect of technique.
5. Often exercises. a traditional ceremony:

   graduation exercises.

6. a religious observance or service.

   Synonyms: ritual

verb (used with object)

, ex·er·cised, ex·er·cis·ing.

1. to put through exercises, or forms of practice or exertion, designed to train, develop, condition, or the like:

   to exercise a horse.

   Synonyms: drill, discipline, school

2. to put (faculties, rights, etc.) into action, practice, or use:

   to exercise freedom of speech.

3. to use or display in one's action or procedure:

   to exercise judgment.

   Synonyms: practice, exert, apply, employ

4. to make use of (one's privileges, powers, etc.):

   to exercise one's constitutional rights.

5. to discharge (a function); perform:

   to exercise the duties of one's office.

6. to have as an effect:

   to exercise an influence on someone.

7. to worry; make uneasy; annoy:

   to be much exercised about one's health.

   Synonyms: trouble, try

verb (used without object)

, ex·er·cised, ex·er·cis·ing.

1. to go through exercises; take bodily exercise.

exercise

/ ˈɛksəˌsaɪz /

verb

1. to put into use; employ

   to exercise tact

2. intr to take exercise or perform exercises; exert one's muscles, etc, esp in order to keep fit
3. to practise using in order to develop or train

   to exercise one's voice

4. to perform or make proper use of

   to exercise one's rights

5. to bring to bear; exert

   to exercise one's influence

6. often passive to occupy the attentions of, esp so as to worry or vex

   to be exercised about a decision

7. military to carry out or cause to carry out, manoeuvres, simulated combat operations, etc

noun

1. physical exertion, esp for the purpose of development, training, or keeping fit
2. mental or other activity or practice, esp in order to develop a skill
3. a set of movements, questions, tasks, etc, designed to train, improve, or test one's ability in a particular field

   piano exercises

4. a performance or work of art done as practice or to demonstrate a technique
5. the performance of a function; discharge

   the exercise of one's rights

   the object of the exercise is to win

6. sometimes plural military a manoeuvre or simulated combat operation carried out for training and evaluation
7. usually plural a ceremony or formal routine, esp at a school or college

   opening exercises

   graduation exercises

8. gymnastics a particular type of event, such as performing on the horizontal bar

Derived Forms

• ˈexerˌcisable, adjective

Other Words From

• exer·cisa·ble adjective
• non·exer·cisa·ble adjective
• non·exer·cise noun
• over·exer·cise verb overexercised overexercising
• post·exer·cise adjective
• re·exer·cise verb reexercised reexercising
• under·exer·cise verb (used without object) underexercised underexercising
• un·exer·cisa·ble adjective
• un·exer·cised adjective
• well-exer·cised adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exercise¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (noun), from Middle French exercice, from Latin exercitium, from exercit(us) “trained” (past participle of exercēre “to train,” from ex- ex- ¹ + -ercēre, combining form of arcēre “to restrain”) + -ium, noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of exercise¹

C14: from Old French exercice, from Latin exercitium, from exercēre to drill, from ex- ¹+ arcēre to ward off

Synonym Study

Exercise, drill, practice refer to activities undertaken for training in some skill. Exercise is the most general term and may be either physical or mental: an exercise in arithmetic. Drill is disciplined repetition of set exercises, often performed in a group, directed by a leader: military drill. Practice is repeated or methodical exercise: Even great musicians require constant practice.

Example Sentences

Any plans to grow her exercise movement must, she insists, remain “completely organic.”

From The Daily Beast

In the last year, her fusion exercise class has attracted a cult following and become de rigueur among the celebrity set.

From The Daily Beast

Such is her burgeoning popularity Toomey is looking to employ more instructors to lead her highly personalized exercise classes.

From The Daily Beast

A lot of people ring in the New Year with vows to lose weight and exercise.

From The Daily Beast

Frustrating as regulars find these fair-weather exercise interlopers, they were also all beginners once, he says.

From The Daily Beast

Variety is admissible only in addition to the original exercise, but should not be substituted for it.

From Project Gutenberg

The designs of Russia have long been proverbial; but the exercise of the new art of printing may assign them new features.

From Project Gutenberg

The exercise of learning the names of the twenty-four Presidents is a good one for this purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

Why did he not exercise more precaution when investigating anything so suspicious as a concealed fire?

From Project Gutenberg

When a man's in clink, his nag gets nothing but mild exercise till his rightful rider gets out.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• act
• action
• activity
• drill
• examination
• lesson
• movement
• operation
• performance
• problem
• study
• task
• test
• training
• workout