exercise
Americannoun
-
bodily or mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement of health.
Walking is good exercise.
- Synonyms:
- gymnastics, calisthenics, activity
- Antonyms:
- inaction
-
something done or performed as a means of practice or training.
exercises for the piano.
-
a putting into action, use, operation, or effect.
the exercise of caution.
- Synonyms:
- performance, practice, application, employment
-
a written composition, musical piece, or artistic work executed for practice or to illustrate a particular aspect of technique.
-
Often exercises. a traditional ceremony.
graduation exercises.
-
a religious observance or service.
- Synonyms:
- ritual
verb (used with object)
-
to put through exercises, or forms of practice or exertion, designed to train, develop, condition, or the like.
to exercise a horse.
- Synonyms:
- school, drill, discipline
-
to put (faculties, rights, etc.) into action, practice, or use.
to exercise freedom of speech.
-
to use or display in one's action or procedure.
to exercise judgment.
-
to make use of (one's privileges, powers, etc.).
to exercise one's constitutional rights.
-
to discharge (a function); perform.
to exercise the duties of one's office.
-
to have as an effect.
to exercise an influence on someone.
-
to worry; make uneasy; annoy.
to be much exercised about one's health.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to put into use; employ
to exercise tact
-
(intr) to take exercise or perform exercises; exert one's muscles, etc, esp in order to keep fit
-
to practise using in order to develop or train
to exercise one's voice
-
to perform or make proper use of
to exercise one's rights
-
to bring to bear; exert
to exercise one's influence
-
(often passive) to occupy the attentions of, esp so as to worry or vex
to be exercised about a decision
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military to carry out or cause to carry out, manoeuvres, simulated combat operations, etc
noun
-
physical exertion, esp for the purpose of development, training, or keeping fit
-
mental or other activity or practice, esp in order to develop a skill
-
a set of movements, questions, tasks, etc, designed to train, improve, or test one's ability in a particular field
piano exercises
-
a performance or work of art done as practice or to demonstrate a technique
-
the performance of a function; discharge
the exercise of one's rights
the object of the exercise is to win
-
(sometimes plural) military a manoeuvre or simulated combat operation carried out for training and evaluation
-
(usually plural) a ceremony or formal routine, esp at a school or college
opening exercises
graduation exercises
-
gymnastics a particular type of event, such as performing on the horizontal bar
Usage
What does exercise mean? Exercise is energetic physical or mental effort, usually for health or betterment, such as running or doing crossword puzzles. An exercise is an action that you do repeatedly to strengthen yourself or to get better at it. Push-ups are exercises you do to strengthen your body. Grammar exercises are often sentences you correct the grammar of to improve your understanding of grammar. To exercise means to practice the action, as in My doctor wants me to exercise more so that I will be healthier. Example: It has been difficult to fit in time for exercise lately.
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
nonexercisenoun
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overexerciseverb
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reexerciseverb
-
underexerciseverb (used without object)
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exercisableadjective
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nonexercisableadjective
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postexerciseadjective
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unexercisableadjective
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unexercisedadjective
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well-exercisedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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exercisesimple
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exercisessimple
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have exercisedperfect
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has exercisedperfect
-
am exercisingprogressive
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are exercisingprogressive
-
is exercisingprogressive
-
have been exercisingperfect progressive
-
has been exercisingperfect progressive
Past
-
exercisedsimple
-
had exercisedperfect
-
was exercisingprogressive
-
were exercisingprogressive
-
had been exercisingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of exercise
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
Explanation
Exercise is physical activity, like an exercise class, or the act of practicing anything — like people who exercise caution while crossing the street. If your dad tells you to exercise restraint in dealing with your brother who just broke your computer, he hasn't suggested that you tie your brother up — here exercise means "use" or "practice." This might remind you of the writing exercises your teacher gave you: practice in forming letters. In many kinds of exercise, the results come from doing something over and over — just ask anyone who exercises, or works out.
Vocabulary lists containing exercise
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Mahatma Gandhi's "Quit India" Speech
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The First Amendment of the US Constitution
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Reacting to the forecast, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "I ask for understanding and call on all citizens in all the country to exercise extreme caution and take every possible precaution."
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The same mental exercise, in the other direction, could benefit frustrated Republicans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
That used to be a purely human exercise.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
So they’re unable to exercise the educational freedom politicians have touted.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
I want to practice the exercise Brother Isoke was trying to teach me earlier, and I want to get it right this time.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Congress exercises control over the district under the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
His Truth Social posts are often bizarre exercises in navel-gazing, and it’s clear he isn’t getting enough sleep.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026
The pact covers tighter defence cooperation, including with naval exercises, as well as stronger ties in trade, diplomacy, culture, sport and science, the two countries said in a joint statement.
From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026
With the exception of “Love Is Strong,” however, most of the songs here are little more than pleasant exercises in nostalgia.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
What once seemed like the most transparent and pure of thin-slicing exercises turns into something quite confusing.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
What power is being exercised, against whom, by what means, and in response to what danger?
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
That verdict came in 1897, towards the end of a century in which women who exercised and played sports had frequently faced disapproval.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The higher the implied volatility, the more likely the option to buy or sell is exercised, which means the higher the price for that option.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
After 10 weeks of training, rats that exercised had about four times as many neurons in the cardiovascular nerve cluster on the right side of the body compared with the left, relative to untrained animals.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
Conversely, any civilization that engages in serious interstellar exploration and colonization must have exercised zero population growth or something very close to it for many generations.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
The benefits of exercising on public land, when done safely and under supervision, outweigh the risks of injury or property damage, such as a baseball going through a neighbor’s window, Ebright said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Boeing also announced Monday that Saudi carrier Riyadh Air is exercising options for 28 787 Dreamliners from an order placed in 2023, and will convert 20 options to the largest variant of this aircraft.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
And bank executives noted corporate chieftains were still exercising some caution because of the war in Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
In its statement, Moygashel Bonfire Association said the display might "shock, offend or outrage", but said those involved in making it were exercising their right to freedom of expression.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Nearly all warrens have an Owsla, or group of strong or clever rabbits—second-year or older—surrounding the Chief Rabbit and his doe and exercising authority.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
