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exercise

[ ek-ser-sahyz ]
/ ˈɛk sərˌsaɪz /
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See synonyms for: exercise / exercised / exercises / exercising on Thesaurus.com

noun
verb (used with object), ex·er·cised, ex·er·cis·ing.
verb (used without object), ex·er·cised, ex·er·cis·ing.
to go through exercises; take bodily exercise.
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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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH exercise

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

How to use exercise in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for exercise

exercise
/ (ˈɛksəˌsaɪz) /

verb (mainly tr)
noun

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
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