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:
But he has been released after his case was dismissed, and, to Tergenbayeva's horror, continues to practise.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
While Sawyer can no longer practise anywhere in England and Wales, it took several years for this to happen.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
Father Hanspeter - also known as Johann - would sometimes work a 14-hour shift as a chef in the kitchens of a local ski lodge before heading to the courts to practise with his son.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Pennicard advises people should practise floating in swimming pools.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
On another day I was in the locker room when the Argentinian, Guillermo Vilas, walked in from a practise session.
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
Nearby, employees of the Union shopping mall practised using fire extinguishers to put out flames within a controlled pit, under the guidance of firefighters.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk practised with the American the week before the Championships and told BBC Sport she did not know what to expect.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 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
He sat very upright, threw out his chest, caressed his moustache and spoke in the manner of a practised speaker addressing a public meeting.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
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
The day after lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires, he was already practising on the grass.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
Rose remains in good health at the age of 95, though he does not know what sets him apart from many of his peers who never made it to that age, let alone practising medicine.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
There were still some treatments to take before my course at the Ospedale Maggiore was finished and I walked along the side street practising not limping.
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
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.
