in practice

Idioms  

1. 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 .

2. 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]

3. 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

That balance — AI as an accelerant rather than a replacement — captures where much of Hollywood has landed in practice.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

“We suspect this assertion of continued Iranian control over the strait will end up being symbolic in practice, but this is not a great outcome,” analysts at Wolfe Research said in a note.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026

The most obvious but also perhaps the least important one, in its way, is that it won’t work in practice.

From Slate • Jun. 18, 2026

The second is theoretically coherent but collapses in practice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

The CDO manager, in practice, didn’t do much of anything, which is why all sorts of unlikely people suddenly hoped to become one.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis