practiseprac‧tise British English, practice American English /ˈpræktɪs/ ●●● S3 W3 verb 
They moved the furniture back to practise their dance routine. It gives students the opportunity to practice their speaking skills.practise doing something Today we’re going to practise parking.practise for She’s practicing for her piano recital.practise something on somebody Everybody wants to practise their English on me.GRAMMARPractise is followed by an -ing form, not an infinitive. You say: · We practised hitting the ball. ✗Don’t say: We practised to hit the ball.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS2[transitive] to use a particular method or custom: This technique is widely practised in Europe (=many people use it).3[intransitive, transitive] to work as a doctor or lawyer: When she has completed her training, she intends to practise in the UK.practise as Gemma is now practising as a dentist.4[transitive] if you practise a religion, system of ideas etc, you live your life according to its rules: They are free to practice their religion openly.5practise what you preach to do the things that you advise other people to do: She didn’t always practise what she preached.THESAURUSpractise British English, practice American English verb [intransitive, transitive] to do an activity many times in order to improve your skill or to prepare for a test: · The course will give you a chance to practise your language skills.· He was practising his golf swing.· You need to practise regularly if you're going to be a good piano player.train verb [intransitive] to practise physical movements or activities in preparation for a race or game: · He's training for the Olympics.rehearse verb [intransitive, transitive] to practise a play, speech, or music in preparation for a public performance: · She's in New York where she's rehearsing her new play.· The band are currently rehearsing for their world tour.work on something to practise a particular skill so that your general performance improves: · You need to work on your listening comprehension.go/run through something to practise something such as a speech, play, or piece of music by reading or playing it from the beginning to the end: · I'll just run through the speech one more time.
VERB TABLE
practise (BrE)
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | practise (BrE) |
| he, she, it | practises (BrE) | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | practised (BrE) |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have practised (BrE) |
| he, she, it | has practised (BrE) | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had practised (BrE) |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will practise |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have practised (BrE) |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am practising (BrE) |
| he, she, it | is practising (BrE) | |
| you, we, they | are practising (BrE) | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was practising (BrE) |
| you, we, they | were practising (BrE) | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been practising (BrE) |
| he, she, it | has been practising (BrE) | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been practising (BrE) |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be practising (BrE) |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been practising (BrE) |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Practise speaking slowly and clearly.
- A small proportion of those who complete their training do not practise as doctors.
- I'm learning how to play the piano, and I try to practise every day.
- I always wanted to be a hairdresser, and used to practise on my friends.
- I graduated from Manchester Law school and practised law with the firm of Arthur & Madden of Birmingham.
- Kingsley has been practising from the London Hydrotherapy Centre since 1960.
- We're going to Paris for a week in summer, so that Bill can practise his French.
- At night, in our hotel, we practised how quickly we could roll out of our beds in case of an attack!
- Don't be tempted to practise specific exercises in between doing other jobs or to demonstrate a particularly good exercise to a friend.
- Finding a rugby ball, they practised drop kicks in the boathouse, much to Jurgen's annoyance.
- He'd been practising it while I'd been away.
- I didn't need to, because he was sitting right next to me, but I wanted to practise my writing.
- Students of chanting practised their art on the beach, with one ear attuned to the waves.
THESAURUS
British English, practice American English verb [intransitive, transitive] to do an activity many times in order to improve your skill or to prepare for a test: · The course will give you a chance to practise your language skills.· He was practising his golf swing.· You need to practise regularly if you're going to be a good piano player.
verb [intransitive] to practise physical movements or activities in preparation for a race or game: · He's training for the Olympics.
verb [intransitive, transitive] to practise a play, speech, or music in preparation for a public performance: · She's in New York where she's rehearsing her new play.· The band are currently rehearsing for their world tour.
to practise a particular skill so that your general performance improves: · You need to work on your listening comprehension.
to practise something such as a speech, play, or piece of music by reading or playing it from the beginning to the end: · I'll just run through the speech one more time.
Longman Language Activatorto practise for a competition, test, or performance British /practice American to do an activity and repeat it a lot in order to get better at it: · I'm learning how to play the piano, and I try to practise every day.· Practicing karate twice a week might be enough, but you should try to do it a bit more.· We're going to Paris for a week in summer, so that Bill can practise his French.practise doing something: · Practise speaking slowly and clearly.practise for: · When I was practicing for the competition, I spent eight hours a day in the conservatory practice rooms.practise on somebody/something: · I always wanted to be a hairdresser, and used to practise on my friends.
to prepare for a race or game by exercising and practising: · If you're really going to run in the marathon, you need to start training now.· In the winter months, she trains in Montana.train for: · Tyson is training for the big fight next week.
especially British to be in the period before a sports event or competition when you practise a particular sport or physical activity in a planned and controlled way: · When I'm in training I spend at least four hours a day at the swimming pool.be in training for: · He's currently in training for an important race.
to practise a particular skill that you need to play a sport, a musical instrument etc, so that your whole performance improves: · Your tennis playing is getting better, but you need to work on your serve.· Scales and finger exercises are the areas to work on if you want to improve your technique.
to practise something over a long period of time and with a lot of effort in order to achieve a high enough standard: · You'll have to really work at it if you want to be a professional dancer.· Learning another language is never easy, but if you work at it you'll soon get results.
to practise something such as a play or concert, so that it is ready to be performed for the public: · The director made us rehearse the opening scenes over and over.· The band has been rehearsing at the studio all day.rehearse for: · He is currently in New York rehearsing for "The Taming of the Shrew."
to practise something such as a play, speech, or piece of music by reading or playing it from start to finish: · I promised to hear her go through her speech.· Let's go through it just once more.· We went through the whole symphony four times, and he still wasn't satisfied.
to practise something just enough to still be good at it but not enough to improve, especially when you no longer do it regularly: · He still comes around the gym occasionally, just to keep his hand in.· Although she has retired now, she keeps her hand in by giving her grandchildren music lessons.
activities people do in order to practise things you do regularly in order to get better at something, or an occasion when you do these things: · You're getting better - you just need a little more practice.· I try and get some practice in before classes.· There are only three more practices before the concert.piano/football/choir etc practice: · I scored two goals at hockey practice tonight.· Are you going to choir practice?
time that you spend practising and doing exercise in order to get better at a sport: · The team captain got a knee injury during training.a training course/session/programme etc: · Training sessions are on Saturdays at 10 a.m.
an occasion when all the people in a play, concert etc practise it in order to prepare for it to be performed for the public: · Changes to the script are often made during rehearsal.rehearsal of: · We're having our first rehearsal of 'Hamlet' tonight.dress rehearsal (=when everyone wears the clothes they will be wearing in the actual play): · Wednesday's dress rehearsal went fairly smoothly.
when you practise a play, speech, piece of music etc by reading or playing it from start to finish: · Let's have one more run-through and then finish for today.· The cast could all have done with an extra run-through of some of the songs.
an event in which you practise something by doing it from start to finish, especially in order to make sure that it will work or happen successfully: · One of the pilots made an error during the dry run of the mission.· The recording was intended to be a dry run, but Warfield sang the song flawlessly.
an activity that is designed to make you practise a particular skill within a larger subject or area of activity: · The exercises in Chapter 3 are helpful for students learning the future tense.· a book of guitar exercises to improve finger flexibility
when you have not practised for a long time if your skill at something is rusty , it is not as good as it used to be, because you have not used it for a long time: · My Spanish is pretty rusty.· I hadn't practiced for a long time, so I was really rusty.
if you are out of practice , you cannot do something as well as you could in the past, because you have not done it for a long time: · Sam said he's a little out of practice, but he'll play if we need him.
to do a job that you get paid for · I haven't worked since I had my first child seven years ago.· His illness eventually prevented him from working.· Four teachers agreed to work without pay until things were settled.work for · For nineteen years, my father worked for the General Electric Corporation.· The company Jack worked for gave him fully paid leave during his wife's illness.work in/on/at · I'd never worked in a lab before I came here.· Five mornings a week, she worked on campus.· Over the years, I'd gotten used to all the perks of working at a posh downtown Miami law firm.work as a consultant/secretary/builder etc · He's changed his job and is now working as a consultant for a German firm.· Her father was an artist who sometimes worked as a salesman and labourer.work somewhere · Sorry, Bethany doesn't work here any more.· Where do you work?work long hours/Sundays/nights/full-time etc · He only works three days a week now.· There's always someone in -- I'm working nights so I'm here in the days.· I was working full-time, so I didn't see much of my girlfriend.· Are you prepared to work longer hours occasionally, to get the work done?work hard · My staff work hard, and they trust me. That's important.
if someone is a teacher, farmer, doctor etc, that is their job: · "What do you do?" "I'm a journalist."· She was a teacher for over twenty years.· Before becoming a writer, Schwarz had been a cook, a cab driver and a door-to-door salesman.
: go into teaching/nursing/politics/journalism etc to start working as a teacher, nurse etc, because you have decided that this is the job you would like to do: · Janet says she'd like to go into teaching after she finishes college.· Mills was wealthy even before he went into politics.· Snyder went into business for herself as an independent consultant.
British /practice American to work in a professional job as a doctor, lawyer, dentist etc: · Although he is a qualified dentist, he ceased to practice several years ago.· Kingsley has been practising from the London Hydrotherapy Centre since 1960.practise medicine/law etc: · I graduated from Manchester Law school and practised law with the firm of Arthur & Madden of Birmingham.practise as: · A small proportion of those who complete their training do not practise as doctors.
WORD SETSacolyte, nounafterlife, nounagnostic, nounangel, nounanimism, nounanoint, verbapostasy, nounapostate, nounarchangel, nounbelieve, verbbeliever, nounbell-ringer, nounbless, verbblessed, adjectiveblessing, nouncelebrant, nounChristian Science, nouncircumcise, verbcircumcision, nouncommunion, nounconfession, nounconvent, nounconversion, nounconvert, nouncoreligionist, nouncowl, nouncredo, nouncreed, nouncult, noundaemon, nounDecalogue, noundefrock, verbdeism, noundenomination, noundenominational, adjectivedevotee, noundevotion, noundevotional, adjectivedevout, adjectivedivine, adjectivedivinity, noundruid, nounfaith, nounfast day, nounfeast, nounfervour, nounfiesta, nounfollow, verbfrankincense, noungentile, noungod, noungoddess, noungrace, nounhabit, nounhair shirt, nounhallelujah, interjectionhallowed, adjectivehalo, nounheathen, adjectiveheathen, nounheaven, nounheavenly, adjectivehell, nounheresy, nounheretic, nounhermit, nounhermitage, nounheterodox, adjectivehigh priest, nounidol, nounidolatry, nounincarnation, nounincense, nouninfidel, nounintercession, nouninvocation, nouninvoke, verbirreligious, adjective-ism, suffixlayman, nounlaywoman, nounlibation, nounliturgical, adjectiveliturgy, nounmartyr, nounmartyr, verbmeditate, verbmeditation, nounmission, nounmonastery, nounmonastic, adjectivemonk, nounmonotheism, nounMoonie, nounMormon, nounMosaic, adjectivemystery play, nounmystic, nounmystical, adjectivemysticism, nounneophyte, nounnovice, nounnovitiate, nounnuminous, adjectivenun, nounnunnery, nounoblation, nounobservance, nounoffering, nounOlympian, adjectiveordain, verborder, nounorthodox, adjectiveotherworldly, adjectivepagan, adjectivepagan, nounpantheism, nounpantheon, nounParsee, nounpilgrim, nounpilgrimage, nounpious, adjectivepluralism, nounpolytheism, nounpractise, verbpray, verbprayer, nounprayer wheel, nounpreach, verbpreacher, nounpriest, nounpriestess, nounpriesthood, nounpriestly, adjectiveprophet, nounprophetess, nounpurify, verbRasta, nounRastafarian, nounRastaman, nounRE, nounrecant, verbreincarnation, nounreligious, adjectivereligiously, adverbreliquary, nounrepent, verbretreat, nounrevelation, nounrevivalism, nounrite, nounritual, nounsacred, adjectivesacrifice, nounsacrifice, verbsacrificial, adjectivesanctify, verbsanctity, nounsanctuary, nounsanctum, nounsatanism, nounscripture, nounsect, nounsectarian, adjectiveservice, nounshaman, nounShinto, nounshrine, nounsin, nounsin, verbsinful, adjectivesinner, nounsoul, nounspirit, nounspiritual, adjectivespiritualism, nounspirituality, nounSr, sun god, nounsuppliant, nounsupplicant, nounsupplication, nounSupreme Being, nounTao, nounTaoism, nountemple, nountenet, nounthanksgiving, nountheism, nountheo-, prefixtheocracy, nountheologian, nountheological college, nountheology, nountonsure, nountranscendental, adjectivetranscendental meditation, nountransmigration, noununbelief, noununbeliever, nounungodly, adjectiveunholy, adjectiveunorthodox, adjectivevisionary, nounvoodoo, nounvotary, nounworship, verbworship, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY This technique is widely practised in Europe (=many people use it).COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The tribe practised a religion that mixed native beliefs and Christianity. The UN appealed for both sides to exercise self-restraint.
This technique is widely practised in Europe (=many people use it). British English, practice a craft American English· The craftsmen use traditional tools to practise their ancient crafts.
British English, practice the piano American English· I would practise the piano for three or four hours a day.
The tribe practised a religion that mixed native beliefs and Christianity. The UN appealed for both sides to exercise self-restraint.· Practise your painting techniques on unwanted pieces of wallpaper.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Some of these rituals we still practise today, though their meaning is only dimly remembered.· Stepping has always been a feature of this particular village and it is still practised to a certain extent today.· Here in the club, gardening is still practised with religious intensity.· Indeed, some animal tissues still practise anaerobic respiration - including muscle fibres, for short periods.
· Interdisciplinary teamwork is now widely practised within hospitals and rehabilitation centres but is still rather unusual elsewhere.· Tripodding of hay and cereals is practised widely in the Alps and Scandinavia where good drying conditions are rare.
NOUN· The invited speakers are either themselves practising in the clinical area or currently speaking or writing about childbirth matters.· Even those doctors who practise in areas remote from hospitals do relatively little life-saving.· Will it be the organised medical practitioners as we know them today or those who are practising in the area?· Organic surface horizons are often thicker than 50 centimetres, and peat-cutting is practised in easily accessible areas around lochs and roads.· My period of training took place as I was practising in the clinical area.· Unsuitable large-scale farming is also being practised in some areas such as the Praslin watershed where bananas are grown for export.· Similarly, estate agents practising in the area should avoid the Town Planning committee.
· They come here to heal, to practise their art, to hide out.· Though he deceived the beholder into taking his artifice for reality, Zeuxis practised an idealist art.· Students of chanting practised their art on the beach, with one ear attuned to the waves.· Keeping her glance averted, her smile modest, she practised the art of scrutinising without seeming to look.· I, too, thought I was doing something unique and practising an art exceptionally well.· Seventy-five year old Marcel Callow has been practising his art for more than fifty years.· Les Noces practises the art of the general and the art of the particular at one and the same time.· Wotherspoon is the first to admit that he an ideas man, practical but not practised in the arts of marketing.
· He took a lot of acid; he practised all day and all night - magic, tricks, illusions.· A ballet dancer who does not practise every day loses a lot of skill, as does a musician.· All stretching exercises should be practised every day, not just at the weekly or twice-weekly training sessions at the club.
· Even those doctors who practise in areas remote from hospitals do relatively little life-saving.· They're carrying placards supporting a doctor who practises environmental medicine.
· The exercises are detailed below; it is advisable to practise each exercise individually before attempting the whole routine.· Don't be tempted to practise specific exercises in between doing other jobs or to demonstrate a particularly good exercise to a friend.· The little flute practises its exercise, and then all is silent, because all is said.· Now practise the exercises below. 1.
· Instead, he chose to stick with the old ways and practise an unenviable form of reverse racism.· In practising a form, the student is taught to defend himself against a series of imaginary opponents.· Depending upon the style of kungfu being practised, the forms vary in length and degrees of difficulty.· Many beginners start to practise their forms in a kind of clockwork, robotic manner.· They also practise mechanical forms of abortion.
· Often they can not be practised on the home site because they are not acceptable on a busy airfield.· Restoring old frames can call for specialist help, but nevertheless there are several techniques that can be practised at home.· I practised at home, of course.
· You can also use silent viewing to get your students practising the language.· They present and practise grammar and useful language functions, such as explaining, defining and comparing.· I left the University fired with enthusiasm to go to live in Moscow to practise the language.
· In 1854, appeals were introduced on matters of law and lawyers were allowed to practise in these courts.· You can also visit the room of Tommaso Grossi, Manzoni's lawyer friend who practised from the house.
· They're carrying placards supporting a doctor who practises environmental medicine.· He was probably the Robert Pemel who obtained an archiepiscopal licence to practise medicine around 1632.
· You should select and practise the appropriate method for the task in hand.· Energia told the crew to practise a manual method.· There is also an interesting herd in Devon where the Pure Meat Company practises extensive organic methods.
· Selling a house even provides an opportunity to practise survey techniques and at the same time improve the chances of selling quickly.· Meetings Meetings provide good opportunities to practise persuasion and to raise your status among subordinates, peers and bosses.· The child is given drinks throughout the night to increase the probability of urinating and providing a lot of opportunities to practise.· Tournaments provided opportunities for practising some of the arts and skills of war in common.
· Patients undergoing surgery sometimes find talking to a spiritual counsellor provides psychological comfort, even if they do not usually practise a religion.· He resolved to practise his religion better.
· Butts Lane takes its name from the medieval archers who practised their skills close by.· This is true of people working in the entertainment industry, who need to practise their skills regularly.· He was very excited and arranged extra meetings with the boys he had chosen as climbers so they could practise their skills.· You can practise this skill by deliberately steering a bad variable course ad feel the pressure changing in the hands.· Pupils would then be encouraged to practise and develop these skills in their own projects.· Malpas brigade are appealing for MoT failures which would be uneconomical to repair so they can practise their firefighting skills.· By practising the skill we show the subconscious what is involved and allow it to acquire the ability to master the skill.· He does not seem to need to practise these skills.
· As a solicitor practising in local government rather than private practice, you do not have individual clients.
· Amy had liked Josie, who had been kind to her and allowed her to practise new make-up techniques on her.· Firstly, here is a chance to practise your survey technique, on the house you are selling.· At the very least job exhibitions give you a good chance to practise your interviewing technique.· Selling a house even provides an opportunity to practise survey techniques and at the same time improve the chances of selling quickly.· Inhibition is an essential and integral step when practising the Technique.· Patients must practise the techniques for up to 20 minutes a day.· They have been on exercise for a week, learning and practising the techniques of counterrevolutionary warfare in a rural setting.· By practising the Alexander Technique feelings and thoughts can alter.
VERB· Amy had liked Josie, who had been kind to her and allowed her to practise new make-up techniques on her.· But students who qualify as doctors abroad won't automatically be allowed to practise in Britain.· In 1854, appeals were introduced on matters of law and lawyers were allowed to practise in these courts.· He will, after all, not be allowed to practise again.
· Archaeology shows that the material was appreciated by the local population of this region long before they had begun to practise farming.· This year Minton also began to practise lithography.· Before his father's retirement in 1869 Knowles began to practise independently.· In the wings, the fieldsmen begin practising the dives which they will need to save future runs.
· However, the partnership is continuing to practise, albeit within a radically different structure.
· You and your companion can learn french, practise yoga - or simply have a coffee and a chat.· Before this can be done successfully there are many human relations skills to be learned and practised.· They have been on exercise for a week, learning and practising the techniques of counterrevolutionary warfare in a rural setting.
· In particular you need to practise new sounds, new contrasts, and the phoneme variants.· These two sounds may therefore first need to be practised separately in non-differential drills.· You would be at the mercy of the hall's acoustics and ideally you would need to practise a bit beforehand.· The quality of relationships the Bible speaks of in terms of the home environment is learned and therefore needs to be practised.· All three aspects need to be practised so that they all come together to give the right impression.· This is true of people working in the entertainment industry, who need to practise their skills regularly.· This is a very quick way to get your hand in and learn what you need to practise.· Touch legering, like so many things worth doing, needs to be practised before you can expect to be proficient.
· Selling a house even provides an opportunity to practise survey techniques and at the same time improve the chances of selling quickly.· Back home, matinees provided the chance to practise and shine.· Meetings Meetings provide good opportunities to practise persuasion and to raise your status among subordinates, peers and bosses.· Tournaments provided opportunities for practising some of the arts and skills of war in common.
· The afternoon was spent practising national negotiation.· You've probably noticed how she spends every spare minute practising her putting.· After that we spent a lot of time practising in what later became Riverside Studios.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- And Scott the rapier-slim rapper backs up this message by practising what he preaches.
- Both Johnson and Lady Macleod found the book wanting, her objection being that the author did not practise what he preached.
- I just wanted to see if he practised what he preached.
- In most areas of life, he tries to practise what he preaches.
- It is a good thing he practises what he preaches.
- It is also important to practise what you preach.
- The paper would practise what it preached.
- The tight control on public sector pay is crucial and underlines the fact that the Government intends to practise what it preaches.
WORD FAMILYnounpracticepractitioneradjectivepractised/practicedpractising/practicingverbpractise/practice
1[intransitive, transitive] to do an activity, often regularly, in order to improve your skill or to prepare for a test: They moved the furniture back to practise their dance routine. It gives students the opportunity to practice their speaking skills.practise doing something Today we’re going to practise parking.practise for She’s practicing for her piano recital.practise something on somebody Everybody wants to practise their English on me.GRAMMARPractise is followed by an -ing form, not an infinitive. You say: · We practised hitting the ball. ✗Don’t say: We practised to hit the ball.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS2[transitive] to use a particular method or custom: This technique is widely practised in Europe (=many people use it).3[intransitive, transitive] to work as a doctor or lawyer: When she has completed her training, she intends to practise in the UK.practise as Gemma is now practising as a dentist.4[transitive] if you practise a religion, system of ideas etc, you live your life according to its rules: They are free to practice their religion openly.5practise what you preach to do the things that you advise other people to do: She didn’t always practise what she preached.THESAURUSpractise British English, practice American English verb [intransitive, transitive] to do an activity many times in order to improve your skill or to prepare for a test: · The course will give you a chance to practise your language skills.· He was practising his golf swing.· You need to practise regularly if you're going to be a good piano player.train verb [intransitive] to practise physical movements or activities in preparation for a race or game: · He's training for the Olympics.rehearse verb [intransitive, transitive] to practise a play, speech, or music in preparation for a public performance: · She's in New York where she's rehearsing her new play.· The band are currently rehearsing for their world tour.work on something to practise a particular skill so that your general performance improves: · You need to work on your listening comprehension.go/run through something to practise something such as a speech, play, or piece of music by reading or playing it from the beginning to the end: · I'll just run through the speech one more time.