exercise

[ ek-ser-sahyz ]

/ ˈɛk sərˌsaɪz /

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See synonyms for: exercise / exercised / exercises / exercising on Thesaurus.com

noun

bodily or mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement of health: Walking is good exercise.

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.

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.

verb (used with object), ex·er·cised, ex·er·cis·ing.

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

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), ex·er·cised, ex·er·cis·ing.

to go through exercises; take bodily exercise.

OTHER WORDS FOR exercise

1 activity; calisthenics, gymnastics.

3 employment, application, practice, performance.

6 ritual.

7 discipline, drill, school.

9 employ, apply, exert, practice.

13 try, trouble.

See synonyms for exercise on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR exercise

1 inaction.

See antonyms for exercise on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of exercise

1300–50; Middle English (noun) <Middle French exercice<Latin exercitium, equivalent to exercit(us) past participle of exercēre to train (ex-ex-¹ + -ercit-, stem of combining form of arcēre to restrain) + -ium noun suffix

synonym study for exercise

2. 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 WORDS FROM exercise

ex·er·cis·a·ble, adjectivenon·ex·er·cis·a·ble, adjectivenon·ex·er·cise, nouno·ver·ex·er·cise, verb, o·ver·ex·er·cised, o·ver·ex·er·cis·ing.

post·ex·er·cise, adjectivere·ex·er·cise, verb, re·ex·er·cised, re·ex·er·cis·ing.un·der·ex·er·cise, verb (used without object), un·der·ex·er·cised, un·der·ex·er·cis·ing.un·ex·er·cis·a·ble, adjectiveun·ex·er·cised, adjectivewell-ex·er·cised, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH exercise

exercise , exorcise

Words nearby exercise

exemption, exenterate, exequatur, exequies, exequy, exercise, exercise ball, exercise bicycle, exercise bike, exercise book, exercise machine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT EXERCISE

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.

Where does exercise come from?

The first records of the term exercise come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin exercitium.

While most often, we talk about exercising our bodies and minds, exercise can be used to describe many other kinds of activities. For example, when you exercise your right to vote, you put into practice or use a right that you have. When you exercise good judgment by having only one slice of cake, you are using good judgment. When you perform your duties as class president, you are exercising your duties. All of these senses relate to performing or practicing an action.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to exercise?

exercisable (adjective)
overexercise (verb)
postexercise (adjective)
unexercised (adjective)
well-exercised (adjective)

What are some synonyms for exercise?

What are some words that share a root or word element with exercise?

What are some words that often get used in discussing exercise?

What are some words exercise may be commonly confused with?

exorcise

How is exercise used in real life?

Exercise is a common word most often used to talk about physical activity.

New exercise gear makes me feel like superman lol

— Ashton Irwin (@Ashton5SOS) June 9, 2015

There is no such thing as the perfect family. Only by the daily exercise of forgiveness can a family grow.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) December 1, 2018

Ideas for getting more exercise next year:

– Move the biscuits farther away
– Buy a heavier kettle

— VeryBritishProblems (@SoVeryBritish) December 30, 2018

Try using exercise!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for exercise?

A. action
B. movement
C. workout
D. rest

How to use exercise in a sentence

Because the best exercise is the one you’ll stick to long-term.
Use TikTok to build the perfect workout|Sandra Gutierrez G.|September 17, 2020|Popular-Science
These wearable exercise tools contain small weights, which add an extra layer of effort to your strength training routine.
The best weighted vests for your next tough workout|PopSci Commerce Team|September 16, 2020|Popular-Science
Strengthening those muscles with exercises like squats, leg presses, or any single leg movement, can help with the pain, Robertson says.
The best thing for back pain is actually more movement|Sara Chodosh|September 16, 2020|Popular-Science
It’s an exercise that can lead to business optimization in novel ways.
How would an SEO agency be built today? Part 2: Current business model(s)|Sponsored Content: SEOmonitor|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Land

As a result, I was invited in the early aughts to play a Times reporter in a “tabletop” exercise organized by New York City.
America Is About to Lose Its 200,000th Life to Coronavirus. How Many More Have to Die?|by Stephen Engelberg|September 14, 2020|ProPublica
Any plans to grow her exercise movement must, she insists, remain “completely organic.”
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the last year, her fusion exercise class has attracted a cult following and become de rigueur among the celebrity set.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Such is her burgeoning popularity Toomey is looking to employ more instructors to lead her highly personalized exercise classes.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A lot of people ring in the New Year with vows to lose weight and exercise.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Frustrating as regulars find these fair-weather exercise interlopers, they were also all beginners once, he says.
How to Survive the New Year ‘Gympocalypse’|Tim Teeman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Variety is admissible only in addition to the original exercise, but should not be substituted for it.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
The designs of Russia have long been proverbial; but the exercise of the new art of printing may assign them new features.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
The exercise of learning the names of the twenty-four Presidents is a good one for this purpose.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Why did he not exercise more precaution when investigating anything so suspicious as a concealed fire?
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
When a man's in clink, his nag gets nothing but mild exercise till his rightful rider gets out.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for exercise

exercise

/ (ˈɛksəˌsaɪz) /

verb (mainly tr)

to put into use; employto 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 trainto exercise one's voice

to perform or make proper use ofto exercise one's rights

to bring to bear; exertto exercise one's influence

(often passive) to occupy the attentions of, esp so as to worry or vexto be exercised about a decision

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 fieldpiano exercises

a performance or work of art done as practice or to demonstrate a technique

the performance of a function; dischargethe 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) US and Canadian a ceremony or formal routine, esp at a school or collegeopening exercises; graduation exercises

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

Derived forms of exercise

exercisable, adjective

Word Origin for exercise

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

exercise

OTHER WORDS FOR exercise

OPPOSITES FOR exercise

Origin of exercise

synonym study for exercise

OTHER WORDS FROM exercise

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH exercise

Words nearby exercise

MORE ABOUT EXERCISE

What does exercise mean?

Where does exercise come from?

Did you know … ?

How is exercise used in real life?

Try using exercise!

Words related to exercise

How to use exercise in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for exercise

Derived forms of exercise

Word Origin for exercise