exercise

[ ek-ser-sahyz ]

/ ˈɛk sərˌsaɪz /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR exercise 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.

Nearby words

exenteration, exenteritis, exequatur, exequies, exequy, exercise, exercise ball, exercise bicycle, exercise bike, exercise book, exercise machine

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

SYNONYMS 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.

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ANTONYMS FOR exercise

1 inaction.

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Related forms

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

Can be confusedexercise exorcise

Synonym study

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for exercised

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
Congress have made corporations, and exercised complete legislation in the Western Territory.
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. I (of 16)|Thomas Hart Benton
One day the troops were marched to Chantilly and exercised in a mock battle.
Company G|A. R. (Albert Rowe) Barlow
The dominating influence which his presence had exercised over me, faded away completely in my imagination.
Katia|Leo Tolstoy
And this virtue in a Christian man is exercised for the behoof of others, as well as for his own.
The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Galatians|G. G. Findlay
In a moment he had felt all that that enormous power could accomplish; in a moment he had exercised it, proved it, wearied of it.
Melmoth Reconciled|Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for exercised

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 Formsexercisable, 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

Word Origin and History for exercised (1 of 2)

exercise

mid-14c., "condition of being in active operation; practice for the sake of training," from Old French exercice (13c.) "exercise, execution of power; physical or spiritual exercise," from Latin exercitium "training, exercise," from exercitare, frequentative of exercere "keep busy, drive on," literally "remove restraint," from ex- "off" (see ex-) + arcere "keep away, prevent, enclose," from PIE *ark- "to hold, contain, guard" (see arcane).

Original sense may have been driving farm animals to the field to plow. Meaning "physical activity" first recorded in English late 14c.; in reference to written schoolwork from early 17c. The ending was abstracted for formations such as dancercise (1967); jazzercise (1977); and boxercise (1985).

Word Origin and History for exercised (1 of 2)

exercise

late 14c., "to employ, put into active use," from exercise (n.); originally "to make use of;" also in regard to mental and spiritual training; sense of "engage in physical activity" is from 1650s. Related: Exercised; exercises; exercising.

exercise

noun

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

verb (used without object), ex·er·cised, ex·er·cis·ing.

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Nearby words

Origin of exercise

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for exercised

British Dictionary definitions for exercised

exercise

verb (mainly tr)

noun

Word Origin for exercise

Word Origin and History for exercised (1 of 2)

exercise

Word Origin and History for exercised (1 of 2)

exercise

Medicine definitions for exercised

exercise

n.