practise

American  

[prak-tis] / ˈpræk tɪs /

verb (used with or without object)

British.

practised, practising

1. practice.

---

practise British  

/ ˈpræktɪs /

verb

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

2. (tr) to do (something) habitually or frequently

   they practise ritual murder

3. to observe or pursue (something, such as a religion)

   to practise Christianity

4. to work at (a profession, job, etc)

   he practises medicine

5. to take advantage of (someone, someone's credulity, etc)

---

Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• mispractise
  noun
• prepractise
  verb

Etymology

Origin of practise

C15: see _practice

Explanation

The word practise is a variant spelling for the verb practice. American English spells both the noun and verb forms practice. For the Brits, the noun form is still spelled practice, but the verb is practise. To practise is to do something repeatedly or habitually. If you've always practised good spending habits, you are probably in good shape financially even though the economy is bad. To practise also means to learn something or become proficient at it by rehearsing or performing regularly. If you ask a Brit how to get to Carnegie Hall, he might respond, "Practise, practise, practise."

Example Sentences

"But the Miyako Odori is a one-hour show in which geisha and maiko have the opportunity to showcase the arts they practise daily," she said.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Superata said that fewer young Japanese want a life that demands huge discipline and comes with a strict practise schedule.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

At the end of a high-school day, she would travel an hour to the riding stable, practise from 8pm to 10pm, return home, do her homework, grab some sleep and start again.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

I'm OKm but over the next few years, maybe I'll have a bit more time where I can practise a bit more.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

If I practise certain religious observances, then there are grounds for thinking the statement is true, but it is difficult to see how one could ever prove it.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton