Exercise vs. Practice: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on September 17, 2023
Exercise refers to physical or mental activities designed for training or improvement, while practice involves the repeated performance of an activity to gain skill or proficiency.
Key Differences
Exercise is a general term that encompasses physical activities like running, swimming, or weightlifting, aimed at improving health and fitness. Practice, in contrast, refers to the repeated performance of specific actions or activities to improve skill and proficiency. For example, a basketball player may exercise by doing cardio but practices by repeatedly shooting free throws.
Exercise often focuses on the broader aspects of well-being, such as cardiovascular health, muscle tone, or mental clarity. It usually follows a set regimen or series of tasks aimed at achieving a general improvement. Practice, on the other hand, hones in on specific skills or techniques. It is more specialized and aims for incremental gains through repetition, like practicing scales on a piano to improve finger dexterity.
In the realm of mental activities, exercise could refer to activities like solving puzzles to keep the mind sharp. Practice would entail focusing on particular types of puzzles, like Sudoku, to get better at them specifically. The end goal of exercise is general improvement, whereas practice aims for mastery or refinement of a particular skill or technique.
Exercise can be a one-off activity or done irregularly, and you might still see some benefit. Practice requires regular repetition and commitment for effective improvement. For instance, going for a run once in a while is exercise, but practicing for a marathon involves a dedicated, long-term regimen.
Comparison Chart
Purpose
General improvement
Skill or proficiency
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Specificity
Broad or general
Targeted or specialized
Frequency
Can be irregular
Requires repetition
End Goal
General well-being
Mastery or refinement
Type of Activity
Physical or mental
Usually skill-based
Exercise and Practice Definitions
Exercise
A customary or regular activity.
It is common practice to shake hands.
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Practice
An actual performance as opposed to a rehearsal.
The orchestra had a flawless practice.
Exercise
The practical application of a theory.
The practice of medicine requires years of study.
Practice
To do or perform habitually or customarily; make a habit of
Practices courtesy in social situations.
Exercise
The act of performing an activity repeatedly to improve skill.
Practice makes perfect.
Practice
The act of performing an activity repeatedly to improve skill.
Practice makes perfect.
Exercise
Activity that requires physical or mental exertion, especially when performed to develop or maintain fitness
Walks every day for exercise.
Practice
To do or perform (something) repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill
Practice a dance step.
Exercise
A specific activity performed to develop or maintain fitness or a skill
Sit-ups and other exercises.
A piano exercise.
Practice
To give lessons or repeated instructions to; drill
Practiced the students in handwriting.
Exercise
The active use or application of something
The exercise of good judgment.
Practice
To work at, especially as a profession
Practice law.
Exercise
The discharge of a duty, function, or office.
Practice
To carry out in action; observe
Practices a religion piously.
Exercise
An activity having a specified aspect
An undertaking that was an exercise in futility.
Practice
(Obsolete) To plot (something evil).
Exercise
A military maneuver or training activity.
Practice
To do something repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill
With any musical instrument, you need to practice to get better.
Exercise
Exercises A ceremony that includes speeches, presentations, and other activities
Graduation exercises.
Practice
To work at a profession
How long has that lawyer been practicing?.
Exercise
To subject to practice or exertion in order to train, strengthen, or develop
Exercise the back muscles.
Exercise the memory.
Practice
To do or perform something habitually or repeatedly
Why not practice in the same manner that you preach?.
Exercise
To put through exercises
Exercise a platoon.
Practice
(Archaic) To intrigue or plot.
Exercise
To make active use of; employ, apply, or exert
Exercise restraint.
Exercise control.
Practice
A habitual or customary action or way of doing something
Makes a practice of being punctual.
Exercise
To discharge (duties, for example).
Practice
Repeated performance of an activity in order to learn or perfect a skill
Practice will make you a good musician.
Exercise
To carry out the functions of
Exercise the role of disciplinarian.
Practice
A session of preparation or performance undertaken to acquire or polish a skill
Goes to piano practice weekly.
Scheduled a soccer practice for Saturday.
Exercise
To execute the terms of (a stock option, for example).
Practice
(Archaic) The skill so learned or perfected.
Exercise
To alarm, worry, or anger; upset
An injustice that exercised the whole community.
Practice
The condition of being skilled through repeated exercise
Out of practice.
Exercise
To engage in exercise.
Practice
The act or process of doing something; performance or action
A theory that is difficult to put into practice.
Exercise
(countable) Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.
The teacher told us that the next exercise is to write an essay.
Practice
Exercise of an occupation or profession
The practice of law.
Exercise
Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
Swimming is good exercise.
I like to do my exercises every morning before breakfast.
I do crosswords for mental exercise.
Practice
The business of a professional person
An obstetrician with her own practice.
Exercise
A setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use.
The law guarantees us the free exercise of our rights.
Practice
A habitual or customary action or act
That company engages in questionable business practices. Facial tattooing is a standard practice among certain peoples.
Exercise
The performance of an office, ceremony, or duty.
I assisted the ailing vicar in the exercise of his parish duties.
Practice
(Law) The procedure for trial of cases in a court of law, usually specified by rules.
Exercise
(obsolete) That which gives practice; a trial; a test.
Practice
The act of tricking or scheming, especially with malicious intent.
Exercise
To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop.
To exercise troops or horses;
To exercise one's brain with a puzzle
Practice
A trick, scheme, or intrigue.
Exercise
(intransitive) To perform physical activity for health or training.
I exercise at the gym every day.
Practice
Repetition of an activity to improve a skill.
He will need lots of practice with the lines before he performs them.
Exercise
(transitive) To use (a right, an option, etc.); to put into practice.
The tenant exercised his option to renew the tenancy.
She is going to exercise her right to vote.
Practice
An organized event for the purpose of performing such repetition.
Being on a team is hard: you're always having to go to practice while everyone else is taking it easy.
I have choir practice every Sunday after church.
Exercise
To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious.
Exercised with pain
Practice
The ongoing pursuit of a craft or profession, particularly in medicine or the fine arts.
Exercise
(obsolete) To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to.
Practice
(countable) A place where a professional service is provided, such as a general practice.
She ran a thriving medical practice.
Exercise
The act of exercising; a setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use; habitual activity; occupation, in general; practice.
Exercise of the important function confided by the constitution to the legislature.
O we will walk this world,Yoked in all exercise of noble end.
Practice
The observance of religious duties that a church requires of its members.
Exercise
Exertion for the sake of training or improvement whether physical, intellectual, or moral; practice to acquire skill, knowledge, virtue, perfectness, grace, etc.
An exercise of the eyes and memory.
Practice
A customary action, habit, or behaviour; a manner or routine.
It is the usual practice of employees there to wear neckties only when meeting with customers.
It is good practice to check each door and window before leaving.
Exercise
Bodily exertion for the sake of keeping the organs and functions in a healthy state; hygienic activity; as, to take exercise on horseback; to exercise on a treadmill or in a gym.
The wise for cure on exercise depend.
Practice
Actual operation or experiment, in contrast to theory.
That may work in theory, but will it work in practice?
Exercise
The performance of an office, a ceremony, or a religious duty.
Lewis refused even those of the church of England . . . the public exercise of their religion.
To draw him from his holy exercise.
Practice
(legal) The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts.
This firm of solicitors is involved in family law practice.
Exercise
That which is done for the sake of exercising, practicing, training, or promoting skill, health, mental, improvement, moral discipline, etc.; that which is assigned or prescribed for such ends; hence, a disquisition; a lesson; a task; as, military or naval exercises; musical exercises; an exercise in composition; arithmetic exercises.
The clumsy exercises of the European tourney.
He seems to have taken a degree, and performed public exercises in Cambridge, in 1565.
Practice
Skilful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; stratagem; artifice.
Exercise
That which gives practice; a trial; a test.
Patience is more oft the exerciseOf saints, the trial of their fortitude.
Practice
(math) A easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.
Exercise
To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to; to put in action habitually or constantly; to school or train; to exert repeatedly; to busy.
Herein do I Exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence.
Practice
(US) practise
Exercise
To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop; hence, also, to improve by practice; to discipline, and to use or to for the purpose of training; as, to exercise arms; to exercise one's self in music; to exercise troops.
About him exercised heroic gamesThe unarmed youth.
Practice
Frequently repeated or customary action; habitual performance; a succession of acts of a similar kind; usage; habit; custom; as, the practice of rising early; the practice of making regular entries of accounts; the practice of daily exercise.
A heart . . . exercised with covetous practices.
Exercise
To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious; to affect; to discipline; as, exercised with pain.
Where pain of unextinguishable fireMust exercise us without hope of end.
Practice
Customary or constant use; state of being used.
Obsolete words may be revived when they are more sounding or more significant than those in practice.
Exercise
To put in practice; to carry out in action; to perform the duties of; to use; to employ; to practice; as, to exercise authority; to exercise an office.
I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery.
Practice
Skill or dexterity acquired by use; expertness.
Exercise
To exercise one's self, as under military training; to drill; to take exercise; to use action or exertion; to practice gymnastics; as, to exercise for health or amusement.
I wear my trusty sword,When I do exercise.
Practice
Actual performance; application of knowledge; - opposed to theory.
There are two functions of the soul, - contemplation and practice.
There is a distinction, but no opposition, between theory and practice; each, to a certain extent, supposes the other; theory is dependent on practice; practice must have preceded theory.
Exercise
The activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit;
The doctor recommended regular exercise
He did some exercising
The physical exertion required by his work kept him fit
Practice
Systematic exercise for instruction or discipline; as, the troops are called out for practice; she neglected practice in music.
Exercise
The act of using;
He warned against the use of narcotic drugs
Skilled in the utilization of computers
Practice
Application of science to the wants of men; the exercise of any profession; professional business; as, the practice of medicine or law; a large or lucrative practice.
Practice is exercise of an art, or the application of a science in life, which application is itself an art.
Exercise
Systematic training by multiple repetitions;
Practice makes perfect
Practice
Skillful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; art; stratagem; artifice; plot; - usually in a bad sense.
He sought to have that by practice which he could not by prayer.
Exercise
A task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding;
You must work the examples at the end of each chapter in the textbook
Practice
A easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.
Exercise
(usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches;
Academic exercises
Practice
The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts.
Exercise
Put to use;
Exert one's power or influence
Practice
To do or perform frequently, customarily, or habitually; to make a practice of; as, to practice gaming.
Exercise
Carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions;
Practice law
Practice
To exercise, or follow, as a profession, trade, art, etc., as, to practice law or medicine.
Exercise
Give a work-out to;
Some parents exercise their infants
My personal trainer works me hard
Work one's muscles
Practice
To exercise one's self in, for instruction or improvement, or to acquire discipline or dexterity; as, to practice gunnery; to practice music.
Exercise
Do physical exercise;
She works out in the gym every day
Practice
To put into practice; to carry out; to act upon; to commit; to execute; to do.
As this advice ye practice or neglect.
Exercise
Learn by repetition;
We drilled French verbs every day
Pianists practice scales
Practice
To make use of; to employ.
In malice to this good knight's wife, I practiced Ubaldo and Ricardo to corrupt her.
Exercise
A professional business.
She opened her own dental practice.
Practice
To teach or accustom by practice; to train.
In church they are taught to love God; after church they are practiced to love their neighbor.
Exercise
An actual performance as opposed to a rehearsal.
The orchestra had a flawless practice.
Practice
To perform certain acts frequently or customarily, either for instruction, profit, or amusement; as, to practice with the broadsword or with the rifle; to practice on the piano.
Practice
To learn by practice; to form a habit.
They shall practice how to live secure.
Practice first over yourself to reign.
Practice
To try artifices or stratagems.
He will practice against thee by poison.
Practice
To apply theoretical science or knowledge, esp. by way of experiment; to exercise or pursue an employment or profession, esp. that of medicine or of law.
[I am] little inclined to practice on others, and as little that others should practice on me.
Practice
A customary way of operation or behavior;
It is their practice to give annual raises
They changed their dietary pattern
Practice
Systematic training by multiple repetitions;
Practice makes perfect
Practice
Translating an idea into action;
A hard theory to put into practice
Differences between theory and praxis of communism
Practice
The exercise of a profession;
The practice of the law
I took over his practice when he retired
Practice
Knowledge of how something is usually done;
It is not the local practice to wear shorts to dinner
Practice
Learn by repetition;
We drilled French verbs every day
Pianists practice scales
Practice
Avail oneself to;
Apply a principle
Practice a religion
Use care when going down the stairs
Use your common sense
Practice non-violent resistance
Practice
Carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions;
Practice law
Practice
Engage in a rehearsal (of)
Practice
A customary or regular activity.
It is common practice to shake hands.
Practice
The practical application of a theory.
The practice of medicine requires years of study.
Practice
A professional business.
She opened her own dental practice.
FAQs
How do exercise and practice differ?
Exercise aims for general improvement, while practice focuses on skill development through repetition.
Is practice always repetitive?
Generally, yes. Practice implies regular repetition to improve a specific skill.
What is practice?
Practice is the repeated performance of an activity to gain skill or proficiency.
Is exercise only physical?
No, exercise can also be mental, like solving puzzles for cognitive enhancement.
How does one choose exercises?
It often depends on your general goals, such as fitness, mental acuity, or skill development.
What is exercise?
Exercise refers to physical or mental activities aimed at improving general health or skills.
Can exercise be a form of practice?
While exercise can help in skill development, it is generally broader and less specialized than practice.
Is there a set frequency for exercise?
No, exercise can be done irregularly, although regularity often yields better results.
Can practice be considered exercise?
Practice can be physically or mentally exerting, so in that sense, it could be considered a form of exercise.
Can you achieve mastery through exercise?
Mastery is generally achieved through focused practice, although exercise can contribute to skill development.
Is repetition crucial for practice?
Yes, repetition is key to achieving mastery or skill through practice.
Can you practice without exercising?
Yes, practice can be non-physical, like practicing public speaking.
Is exercise more about breadth or depth?
Exercise is more about breadth, targeting general improvement.
Is practice more about breadth or depth?
Practice is more about depth, focusing on specific skills.
How does one choose what to practice?
It generally depends on what specific skill or proficiency you want to acquire or improve.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.