practise

[ prak-tis ]

/ ˈpræk tɪs /

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verb (used with or without object), prac·tised, prac·tis·ing.British.

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True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

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OTHER WORDS FROM practise

mis·prac·tise, noun, verb, mis·prac·tised, mis·prac·tis·ing.pre·prac·tise, verb, pre·prac·tised, pre·prac·tis·ing.

Words nearby practise

Practice makes perfect, practice-teach, Practice what you preach, practicing, practicum, practise, practised, practitioner, prad, Prader-Willi syndrome, Pradesh

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

PRACTISE VS. PRACTICE

What’s the difference between practise and practice?

In British English (and many other international varieties of English), the spelling practise is used when the word is a verb, while the spelling practice is used when it’s a noun. In American English, the spelling practice is always used, regardless of whether the word is used as a verb or a noun.

This is somewhat similar to the difference in spelling between advice (noun) and advise (verb)—a distinction that’s used in both British and American English.

However, unlike advice and advise, practise and practice are always pronounced the same.

Here is an example of how practise and practice would be used in the same sentence in British English.

Example: Remember, practice makes perfect—the more you practise, the better you will get.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between practise and practice.

Quiz yourself on practise vs. practice!

True or False?

In American English, the spelling practice is used only for nouns.

How to use practise in a sentence

It was a profession that many of the Maharashtrian Dalits in his slum had practised for generations, but some were luckier than others.
These workers were jailed for keeping Mumbai clean|Aarefa Johari|November 25, 2021|Quartz
Practise gliding in the form of inflection, or slide, from one extreme of pitch to another.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
I shall soon depart, and practise no more; and my time will become my own—still my own, by no means yours.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
The object of this practise is to attain facility in manipulating the elements while maintaining the smooth quality of the tone.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick

He need not stop further study, but whatever else he learns let him at least practise this daily recital for one month.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Ki Pak had an arrow-walk and target in his garden, and here it was that Yung Pak used to practise almost daily.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike

British Dictionary definitions for practise

practise

US practice

/ (ˈpræktɪs) /

verb

to do or cause to do repeatedly in order to gain skill

(tr) to do (something) habitually or frequentlythey practise ritual murder

to observe or pursue (something, such as a religion)to practise Christianity

to work at (a profession, job, etc)he practises medicine

(foll by on or upon) to take advantage of (someone, someone's credulity, etc)

Word Origin for practise

C15: see practice

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