in practice
Idioms-
Actually, in fact, especially as opposed to theoretically or in principle . For example, In practice this contraption seems to work, although no one knows how or why . [Second half of 1500s] Also see put into practice .
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In the exercise of a particular profession, as in She's an obstetrician and has been in practice for at least ten years . [c. 1700]
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In a state of being exercised so as to maintain one's skill, as in This trumpeter is always in practice . [Early 1600s] For an antonym, see out of practice .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In theory GDP and GDI should be the same, though in practice they differ slightly because of statistical imprecision.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
“But in practice, many of those were the same bank, and so there wasn’t necessarily an incentive to keep prices low for merchants.”
From MarketWatch • May 25, 2026
“That’s what we see in practice, she’s been like that. I was just smiling. … I’m so proud of her.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
Smash tacos are one of those techniques that look impressive but are, in practice, very forgiving.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
They imply philosophical claims which are difficult, perhaps impossible, to defend, yet in practice they work well.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
