- a variation of practice.
practise
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
-
to do or cause to do repeatedly in order to gain skill
-
(tr) to do (something) habitually or frequently
they 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
-
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
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Lister said she does not train or practise for the competition but just turns up on the day and gives it her best.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
She also suggests a "goodbye ritual" with your child to practise separation, such as blowing a kiss.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
You can also practise standing on one leg, for example while brushing your teeth.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
During the 10-day Han Kuang drills that end Friday, Taiwan's military staged combat scenarios for its troops and reservists to practise responding to a Chinese attack.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
She now commenced to practise her husband’s precepts.
From "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" by Frederick Douglass
The film, Don't Look Back In Anger, shows that Columbia was the first song they practised during the reunion rehearsal.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
But other memories linked to highly practised skills and routines can be more resilient.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Ren insisted that financial giving -- used partly to pay pastors -- is part of Biblical teaching practised by Christian churches.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
Although trained as an architect she never practised, instead running several construction companies.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Like Gilbert, Galileo practised what he preached, and it was the peripatetic approach that was blown apart by his work in Italy late in the sixteenth century and early in the seventeenth century.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
"It makes practising feel much more engaging and like the real thing, compared to practising at home on your own, which feels a bit awkward and boring."
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Hwang gathered along with 30 neighbours for a session in August, practising how to pay hospital bills at mock kiosks, patting a prancing robot dog, or asking their phones: "Gemini, tell me about tomorrow's weather."
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
Refering to its current beauty therapy provision, it said it was "delivered by practising beauty therapists and includes training on ethical practice, personal safety and clear professional boundaries when working with clients of all genders".
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
It recognises Protestantism and Catholicism as official religions, but practising organisations must register with the government -- something many Christians feel yields an unacceptable amount of control over church affairs and teachings.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
The discovery of the New World had fatally undermined any claim that there are some things on which all human beings can agree—here were societies practising nudity and cannibalism.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
