exercise
Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.
Noun 4 meanings
Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.
“The teacher told us that the next exercise is to write an essay.”
Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
“I like to do my exercises every morning before breakfast. I do calisthenics for physical exercise, and I do crosswords for mental 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.”
The performance of an office, ceremony, or duty.
“I assisted the ailing vicar in the exercise of his parish duties.”
Verb 4 meanings
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”
To perform physical activity for health or training.
“I exercise at the gym every day.”
To use (a right, an option, etc.); to put into practice.
“exercise caution”
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”
Etymology
From Middle English exercise, from Old French exercise, from Latin exercitium. Displaced native Old English plega (“an exercise”) whence Modern English play.
Similar and opposite words
EXERCISE at a glance
EXERCISE has 8 letters and scores 17 points in Scrabble (E 1 + X 8 + E 1 + R 1 + C 3 + I 1 + S 1 + E 1) and 18 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #2,057 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with exercise
All rhymesOne letter away
- EXORCISE17
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