practise
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
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to do or cause to do repeatedly in order to gain skill
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(tr) to do (something) habitually or frequently
they practise ritual murder
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to observe or pursue (something, such as a religion)
to practise Christianity
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to work at (a profession, job, etc)
he practises medicine
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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:
But he has been released after his case was dismissed, and, to Tergenbayeva's horror, continues to practise.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Dani Gibson, Freya Kemp and Linsey Smith – three fielders who often share the job of patrolling the boundary – practise their high catches or sprints to retrieve and return the ball.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Schönegger remembers him as a youngster who stayed on to practise his footwork and groundstrokes after the group lessons were over.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Karua faced several hurdles before she was eventually cleared to represent Besigye - including her initial application to practise as a lawyer in Uganda being rejected.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
At the end of the eighth week Keith took me aside following practise and gave me an evaluation of my game.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
Although trained as an architect she never practised, instead running several construction companies.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
The sound of pliers clicking filled a workshop in eastern China's Hangzhou as a group of women practised stripping wires, their female instructor moving around the classroom to offer advice.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
He practised at Wimbledon over the weekend but did not take to the court on Monday and withdrew shortly afterwards.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
However, the rich resources of the northern wetlands were more suited to the lifestyle practised by hunter-gatherers.
From Science Daily ● May 30, 2026
When my child is ready, I thought now, I will teach him too; and I practised harder than ever lest my fingers should lose their skill.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
The room, which doubles as a kitchen and bedroom, was decorated with flowers drawn by Habiba's 11-year-old daughter, Nahida, who was practising English that she had learnt at the village school.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Bobbing around the shore in goggles and a wetsuit, an energetic Wu shares from her decades of experience practising the tradition she had learned from her father as a teenager.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
Afterwards, Williams remained coy when asked about the prospect of playing singles at Wimbledon, but returned to London the following day and started practising at SW19 on Thursday.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
The day after lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires, he was already practising on the grass.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
“So practising with your team will prepare him for the rigors of American collegiate tennis, should he get the scholarship.”
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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.
