exercise

American  

[ek-ser-sahyz] / ˈɛk sərˌsaɪz /

noun

• exercises
  plural

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

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verb (used with object)

• exercises,
  present (3rd person singular)
• exercised,
  past participle,  past
• exercising
  present participle

1. 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

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)

• exercises,
  present (3rd person singular)
• exercised,
  past participle,  past
• exercising
  present participle

1. to go through exercises; take bodily exercise.

exercise British  

/ 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

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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

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

• nonexercise
  noun
• overexercise
  verb
• reexercise
  verb
• underexercise
  verb (used without object)
• exercisable
  adjective
• nonexercisable
  adjective
• postexercise
  adjective
• unexercisable
  adjective
• unexercised
  adjective
• well-exercised
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• exercises
  plural

Participles

• exercising
  present
• exercised
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• exercise
  simple
• exercises
  simple
• have exercised
  perfect
• has exercised
  perfect
• am exercising
  progressive
• are exercising
  progressive
• is exercising
  progressive
• have been exercising
  perfect progressive
• has been exercising
  perfect progressive

Past

• exercised
  simple
• had exercised
  perfect
• was exercising
  progressive
• were exercising
  progressive
• had been exercising
  perfect progressive

Future

• will exercise
  simple
• will have exercised
  perfect
• will be exercising
  progressive
• will have been exercising
  perfect progressive

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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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

exercise exercises exercised exercising

This design allowed researchers to examine the effects of the supplement and exercise separately, as well as investigate whether combining them offered additional benefits.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026

After this initial training period, the four exercise groups followed different schedules for another four weeks.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026

An exercise in truth, perception and distortion, most viewers walk out of the theater unclear about what’s real — including whether Fielder is playing a character.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

Second Lt Max George, 26, of Durham, died at the scene of a training exercise on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, on 21 June 2022.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

Dr. Westminster was in the middle of a training exercise.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

As a scholar of the American presidency and deliberative democracy, I pay close attention to how the nation’s chief executive exercises power and communicates with the public.

From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2026

As their strength improved, participants were encouraged to make the exercises progressively more difficult.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation describes it as "the principal base for live fire training exercises".

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

He celebrated a good year in 1937 because, as Germany militarized, everyone needed paper for their windows to conduct blackout exercises.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

In terms of notation, Kodály’s exercises do not have to use the regular musical staff.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Doctors also say that certain patients, usually older adults, postmenopausal women or people who have never exercised, are suddenly dealing with back or bone issues after experiencing rapid weight loss.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

On each of those occasions, the governor’s office exercised its authority to prevent her release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

The petition argues that Kumar exercised powers that belong to the commission collectively and seeks a ruling that any such actions were unauthorised.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

The study, recently published in Family Relations, found that couples who exercised together reported better communication, more effective conflict resolution and less marital stress than couples who did not share physical activity.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

“Well, you don’t need to get exercised, Jean,” she said.

From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz

Seabright last year ruled that Essayli was “not lawfully serving” as acting U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, but allowed him to continue exercising authority as a special attorney and first assistant U.S. attorney.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

Since then, she had focused on exercising through activities such as gym workouts and running, as well as going to therapy to improve her wellbeing, she added.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

Higher total activity time, greater overall activity volume, and more time spent exercising vigorously were each associated with slower deterioration in both thinking abilities and movement symptoms.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

We never really feel like exercising, but we force ourselves, so we will drive to Beverly Hills and do the walking path along Santa Monica Boulevard, which is quite lovely.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

The talks were about the latest advances in electronics and Jobs, exercising a style that was a trademark of his personality, collared Hewlett-Packard engineers and drew additional information from them.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

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Related Words

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

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