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

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

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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

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

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

How to use exercise in a sentence

His classes are big on demented trust exercises, and it’s during one of these exercises that David and Sarah first connect.
The mind-boggling end of Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise, explained|Constance Grady|November 20, 2020|Vox
I was only going to an outdoor exercise class in a field, so I figured my short blond hair, peach biker shorts and big Champion sweatshirt, combined with the timeliness of the upcoming season of “The Crown” featuring her, would be perfect.
What ‘The Crown’ got right in portraying Princess Diana’s bulimia: It let her voice be heard|Amanda Long|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The military is already conducting multiple tabletop exercises to plan for contingencies and potential distribution failures.
We can’t rely on just one company to distribute COVID vaccines|jakemeth|November 20, 2020|Fortune
This means exercise can boost strong connections between the prefrontal cortex and other brain regions.
Warning! Junk foods can harm a teen’s brain|Sharon Oosthoek|November 19, 2020|Science News For Students

They make new friends, get a lot of exercise and learn skills.
Losing gracefully is one of the most important lessons from playing sports|Fred Bowen|November 18, 2020|Washington Post
Blair never made the mistake of underestimating Brooks, and his own considerable powers of ingratiation were exercised on her.
Murdoch on the Rocks: How a Lone Reporter Revealed the Mogul's Tabloid Terror Machine|Clive Irving|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Distasteful those ads might be, but restrictions on political speech should be exercised with great deliberation and caution.
Is Big Money Politics an Overblown Evil?|David Freedlander|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Tom Coburn has exercised a lot more influence on the race than anyone has actually realized,” Shapard said.
Tea Party Darling T.W. Shannon Crashes to Oklahoma Senate Primary Defeat|Tim Mak|June 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But big brains were exercised in how the stars were produced, directed, scripted, and managed.
Welcome to Showbiz Sharia Law|P. J. O’Rourke|May 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The political world and her most fervent fans may be exercised about a presidential bid.
Don’t Run for President, Hillary. Become a ‘Post-President’ Instead|Tina Brown|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The ability to sustain the tone for a long time will increase, and with it the power of the muscles exercised.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
This power may be exercised, either through treaties made by the president and senate, or through statutes enacted by congress.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
If exclusive authority to issue the call is vested in the directors, it cannot be exercised by the president and secretary.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
In view of the lasting influence which her personality exercised upon Peter Ilich, some account of this lady should be given here.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
No restraint is placed upon the practice of any religion exercised with due regard to morality.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman

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 related to exercise

How to use exercise in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for exercise

Derived forms of exercise

Word Origin for exercise