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

Because the best exercise is the one you’ll stick to long-term.

From Popular-Science

These wearable exercise tools contain small weights, which add an extra layer of effort to your strength training routine.

From Popular-Science

Strengthening those muscles with exercises like squats, leg presses, or any single leg movement, can help with the pain, Robertson says.

From Popular-Science

It’s an exercise that can lead to business optimization in novel ways.

From 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.

From ProPublica

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

How Do You Spell Exercise?

Spelling tips for exercise

The word exercise is hard to spell for two reasons. First, it can be tempting to add an extra c to the word after the x (excercise). Second, it can be hard to remember whether the c or the s comes first in the word (exersice). 

How to spell exercise: To spell exercise, it helps to keep in mind that the c and the s appear in the same order they do in the alphabet (the c before the s). Also, there is only one c.

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?

• activity
• apply
• exert
• performance
• train

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

• exercise machine
• exercise ball
• exerciser

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

• cardio
• mental
• muscle
• repetition

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