The practical aspects of something involve real situations and events, rather than just ideas and theories.
We can offer you practical suggestions on how to increase the fibre in your dailydiet.
This practical guidebook teaches you about relaxation, coping skills, and time management.
Synonyms: functional, efficient, realistic, pragmatic More Synonyms of practical
2. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
You describe people as practical when they make sensible decisions and deal effectively with problems.
[approval]
You were always so practical, Maria.
How could she be so practical when he'd just told her something so shattering?
He lacked any of the practical common sense essential in management.
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Practical ideas and methods are likely to be effective or successful in a real situation.
Although the causes of cancer are being uncovered, we do not yet have any practicalway to prevent it.
It is not easy to make practical suggestions for helping her.
Synonyms: feasible, possible, sound, viable More Synonyms of practical
4. adjective
You can describe clothes and things in your house as practical when they are suitable for a particular purpose rather than just being fashionable or attractive.
Our clothes are lightweight, fashionable, practical for holidays.
5. countable noun
A practical is an examination or a lesson in which you make things or do experiments rather than simply writing answers to questions.
[mainly British]
More Synonyms of practical
practical in British English
(ˈpræktɪkəl)
adjective
1.
of, involving, or concerned with experience or actual use; not theoretical
2.
of or concerned with ordinary affairs, work, etc
3.
adapted or adaptable for use
4.
of, involving, or trained by practice
5.
being such for all useful or general purposes; virtual
noun
6.
an examination in the practical skills of a subject
a science practical
▶ USAGE A distinction is usually made between practical and practicable. Practical refers to a person, idea, project, etc, as being more concerned with or relevantto practice than theory: he is a very practical person; the idea had no practical application. Practicable refers to a project or idea as being capable of being done or put into effect: the plan was expensive, yet practicable
Derived forms
practicality (ˌpractiˈcality) or practicalness (ˈpracticalness)
noun
Word origin
C17: from earlier practic, from French pratique, via Late Latin from Greek praktikos, from prassein to experience, negotiate, perform
practical in American English
(ˈpræktɪkəl)
adjective
1.
of, exhibited in, or obtained through practice or action
practical knowledge
2.
a.
usable; workable; useful and sensible
practical proposals
b.
designed for use; utilitarian
3.
concerned with the application of knowledge to useful ends, rather than with theory, speculation, etc.
practical science
4.
given to, or experienced from, actual practice
a practical farmer
5.
of, concerned with, or dealing realistically and sensibly with everyday activities, work, etc.
6.
that is so in practice, whether or not in theory, law, etc.; virtual
7.
matter-of-fact; prosaic
SYNONYMY NOTE: practical stresses effectiveness as tested by actual experience or as measured by a completelyrealistic approach to life or the particular circumstances involved; , practicable is used of something that appears to be capable of being put into effect, but hasnot yet been developed or tried [before the era of electronics, television did not seem practicable; today it is but one of the practical applications of the science]
OPPOSITES: impractical, impracticable
Derived forms
practicality (ˌpractiˈcality) (ˈpræktɪˈkæləti)
nounWord forms: pluralˌpractiˈcalities or ˈpracticalness
Word origin
practic + -al
Examples of 'practical' in a sentence
practical
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
These are practical people who may lack social skills.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Offer practical help such as gardening for her mum or run her to hospital appointments.
The Sun (2016)
Take practical steps to cut down on the habit.
The Sun (2017)
He combined socialist ideals with a deep practical experience of how most people lived and thought.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But just because these technologies are thrilling doesn’t mean they don’t have practical business applications.
Computing (2010)
But it is not easy to be practical about it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It’s proved very difficult to make these systems fast and robust enough to be of practical use in the real world.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
A political move rather than a practical one.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
These are just two examples of the practical benefits available to SMEs that are prepared to join the online conversation and get their message across.
Computing (2010)
The captain had put religion to practical use.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
The objection to this is practical rather than philosophical.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The advice from the experts was practical and extremely useful.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Yet it seemed that it was practical people who were wanted.
Edward Beauclerk Maurice THE LAST OF THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS: Coming of Age in the Arctic (2004)
You can be making a good recovery but still be troubled by something practical.
The Sun (2015)
There is now much evidence that the best science teaching needs practical work and experiments.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You can really get your message across and find practical ways to make home life run smoothly.
The Sun (2016)
This is simply a sense of practical justice.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You need to take practical steps now.
The Sun (2008)
The entrepreneur has also launched a scholarship to help one student a year gain practical experience overseas.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The union contends that the practical difficulties involved are more pressing than the theoretical advantages.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The practical applications of science were always a focus and motivation for his work.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The practical benefits to our economy of taking back responsibility for employment law would be small.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
What practical purpose is served in pointing who is up and who down in national economic leagues?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The cars are practical and easy to load.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Some practical measures should be taken to thwart these plans.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
What are the practical implications for us?
Christianity Today (2000)
The page offers practical tips for those seeking to move.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The experiences taught him invaluable practical lessons.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She is above all patriotic and endowed with practical common sense.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Is fat of any practical use to the body?
Erdmann, Robert & Jones, Meirion Fats, Nutrition and Health (1991)
One of the reasons people had patterned carpets was practical rather than aesthetic.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We just focus on the practical things that people can do.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You want something practical with steel forks which'll give you flexibility and strength.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
practical
British English: practical /ˈpræktɪkl/ ADJECTIVE
Practical means involving real situations, rather than ideas and theories.
They offer practical suggestions for healthy eating.
American English: practical
Arabic: عَمَلِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: prático
Chinese: 实际的
Croatian: praktičan
Czech: praktický
Danish: praktisk
Dutch: praktisch
European Spanish: práctico
Finnish: käytännöllinen
French: pratique utile
German: praktisch
Greek: πρακτικός
Italian: pratico
Japanese: 実際的な
Korean: 실용적인
Norwegian: praktisk
Polish: praktyczny
European Portuguese: prático
Romanian: practic
Russian: практический
Latin American Spanish: práctico útil, empírico
Swedish: praktisk
Thai: เหมาะสมที่จะปฏิบัติ
Turkish: pratik
Ukrainian: практичний
Vietnamese: thực tế
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'practical'
practical art
an art or craft , as woodworking or needlework , that serves a utilitarian purpose
practical tip
A tip is a useful piece of advice .
practical use
Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it.
practical way
If you refer to a way of doing something, you are referring to how you can do it, for example the action you can take or the method you can use to achieve it.
practical idea
An idea is a plan, suggestion , or possible course of action.
practical issue
An issue is an important subject that people are arguing about or discussing .
practical joke
A practical joke is a trick that is intended to embarrass someone or make them look ridiculous .
practical nurse
a person who has a license to provide basic health care (such as help in walking , bathing , feeding )
practical skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge.
practical step
A step is one of a series of actions that you take in order to achieve something.
practical advice
If you give someone advice , you tell them what you think they should do in a particular situation.
practical guidance
Guidance is help and advice .
practical matter
A matter is a task , situation, or event which you have to deal with or think about, especially one that involves problems .
practical reason
the faculty by which human beings determine how to act
practical solution
A solution to a problem or difficult situation is a way of dealing with it so that the difficulty is removed.
practical application
The application of a rule or piece of knowledge is the use of it in a particular situation.
practical assistance
If you give someone assistance , you help them do a job or task by doing part of the work for them.
practical implications
The implications of something are the things that are likely to happen as a result.
practical knowledge
Knowledge is information and understanding about a subject which a person has, or which all people have.
practical necessity
The necessity of something is the fact that it must happen or exist.
practical consideration
A consideration is something that should be thought about, especially when you are planning or deciding something.
licensed practical nurse
a person who has graduated from an accredited school of nursing and has become licensed to provide basic nursing care under the supervision of a physician or registered nurse
International Practical Temperature Scale
a temperature scale adopted by international agreement in 1968, and revised in 1990, based on thermodynamic temperature and using experimental values to define 16 fixed points. The lowest is the triple point of an equilibrium mixture of orthohydrogen and parahydrogen (–259.34°C) and the highest the freezing point of copper (1084.62°C)
for all practical purposes/to all intents and purposes
You use for all practical purposes or to all intents and purposes to suggest that a situation is not exactly as you describe it, but the effect is the same as if it were.
Chinese translation of 'practical'
practical
(ˈpræktɪkl)
adj
(= not theoretical)[difficulties, experience]实(實)践(踐)的 (shíjiàn de)
sensible, useful, and effective rather than fashionable or attractive
practical suggestions on how to be more eco-friendly
Synonyms
functional
efficient
a relatively cheap and efficient form of communication
realistic
pragmatic
a pragmatic approach to the problems faced by Latin America
Opposites
unrealistic
,
inefficient
,
impractical
,
impracticable
2 (adjective)
Definition
involving experience or actual use rather than theory
theories based on practical knowledge
Synonyms
empirical
There is no empirical evidence to support his theory.
real
No, it wasn't a dream. It was real.
applied
actual
She had written some notes, but she hadn't started the actual work.
hands-on
People will be able to get involved in the hands-on display.
in the field
experimental
The technique is still in the experimental stages.
factual
Opposites
theoretical
,
speculative
,
unpractical
3 (adjective)
Definition
concerned with everyday matters
She is always so practical and full of common sense.
Synonyms
sensible
She was a sensible girl and did not panic.
ordinary
My life seems pretty ordinary compared to yours.
realistic
a realistic view of what we can afford
down-to-earth
She's the most down-to-earth person I've met.
mundane
Be willing to do mundane tasks with good grace.
matter-of-fact
He gave her the news in a matter-of-fact way.
no-nonsense
With his gruff Scottish voice and no-nonsense attitude, he's an imposing figure.
businesslike
Mr Penn sounds quite businesslike.
hard-headed
a hard-headed and shrewd businesswoman
workaday
an escape from the tedium of the workaday world
grounded
Opposites
unrealistic
,
impractical
4 (adjective)
We do not yet have any practical way to prevent cancer.
Synonyms
feasible
The deal was not economically feasible.
possible
Everything is possible if we want it enough.
sound
viable
commercially viable products
constructive
Both men described the talks as frank, friendly and constructive.
workable
This isn't a workable solution to the problem.
practicable
Teachers can only be expected to do what is practicable.
doable
Opposites
impossible
,
useless
,
impractical
,
unworkable
,
unsound
,
unpractical
5 (adjective)
Definition
involving the simple basics
clothes which are practical as well as stylish
Synonyms
useful
The police gained useful information about the organisation.
ordinary
It was just an ordinary day for us.
appropriate
sensible
It might be sensible to get a solicitor.
everyday
an exhilarating escape from the drudgery of everyday life
functional
The decor is functional.
utilitarian
Bilal's office is a corner one, utilitarian and unglamorous.
serviceable
His Arabic was serviceable enough.
6 (adjective)
people with practical experience of running businesses
Synonyms
skilled
skilled workers, such as plumbers
working
I used to have a good working knowledge of French.
seasoned
The author is a seasoned academic.
trained
experienced
a team made up of experienced professionals
qualified
Demand has far outstripped supply of qualified teachers.
veteran
efficient
a highly efficient worker
accomplished
one of the most accomplished authors of our time
proficient
Many Egyptians are proficient in foreign languages.
Opposites
inexperienced
,
inefficient
,
unskilled
,
unqualified
,
untrained
,
unaccomplished
Usage note
A distinction is usually made between practical and practicable. Practical refers to a person, idea, project, etc, as being more concerned with or relevant to practice than theory: he is a very practical person; the idea had no practical application. Practicable refers to a project or idea as being capable of being done or put into effect: the plan was expensive, yet practicable.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accomplished
Definition
expert or proficient
one of the most accomplished authors of our time
Synonyms
skilled,
able,
professional,
expert,
masterly,
talented,
gifted,
polished,
practised,
cultivated,
tasty (British, informal),
skilful,
adept,
consummate,
proficient
in the sense of actual
She had written some notes, but she hadn't started the actual work.
Synonyms
real,
substantial (formal),
concrete,
definite,
tangible
in the sense of businesslike
Definition
efficient and methodical
Mr Penn sounds quite businesslike.
Synonyms
efficient,
professional,
practical,
regular,
correct,
organized,
routine,
thorough,
systematic,
orderly,
matter-of-fact,
methodical,
well-ordered,
workaday
Synonyms of 'practical'
practical
Explore 'practical' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of constructive
Definition
useful and helpful
Both men described the talks as frank, friendly and constructive.
Synonyms
helpful,
positive,
useful,
practical,
valuable,
productive
in the sense of down-to-earth
Definition
sensible or practical
She's the most down-to-earth person I've met.
Synonyms
sensible,
practical,
realistic,
common-sense,
matter-of-fact,
sane,
no-nonsense,
hard-headed,
unsentimental,
plain-spoken,
grounded
in the sense of efficient
Definition
working or producing effectively without wasting effort, energy, or money
a relatively cheap and efficient form of communication
Synonyms
effective,
successful,
structured,
productive,
powerful,
systematic,
streamlined,
cost-effective,
methodical,
well-organized,
well-planned,
labour-saving,
effectual
in the sense of efficient
Definition
working or producing effectively without wasting effort, energy, or money
a highly efficient worker
Synonyms
competent,
able,
professional,
capable,
organized,
productive,
skilful,
adept,
ready,
proficient,
businesslike,
well-organized,
workmanlike
in the sense of everyday
Definition
suitable for or used on ordinary days
an exhilarating escape from the drudgery of everyday life
Synonyms
ordinary,
common,
usual,
familiar,
conventional,
routine,
dull,
stock,
accustomed,
customary,
commonplace,
mundane,
vanilla (slang),
banal,
habitual,
run-of-the-mill,
unimaginative,
workaday,
unexceptional,
bog-standard (British, Irish, slang),
common or garden (informal),
dime-a-dozen (informal),
wonted
in the sense of experienced
Definition
skilful or knowledgeable as a result of having done something many times before
a team made up of experienced professionals
Synonyms
knowledgeable,
trained,
professional,
skilled,
tried,
tested,
seasoned,
expert,
master,
qualified,
familiar,
capable,
veteran,
practised,
accomplished,
competent,
skilful,
adept,
well-versed
in the sense of experimental
Definition
relating to, based on, or having the nature of an experiment
The technique is still in the experimental stages.
Synonyms
test,
trial,
pilot,
preliminary,
provisional,
tentative,
speculative,
empirical,
exploratory,
trial-and-error,
fact-finding,
probationary
in the sense of hands-on
Definition
involving practical experience of equipment
People will be able to get involved in the hands-on display.
Synonyms
practical,
interactive,
participatory
in the sense of hard-headed
Definition
tough, realistic, or shrewd, esp. in business
a hard-headed and shrewd businesswoman
Synonyms
shrewd,
tough,
practical,
cool,
sensible,
realistic,
pragmatic,
astute,
hard-boiled (informal),
hard-bitten,
level-headed,
unsentimental,
badass (slang, US)
in the sense of matter-of-fact
Definition
unimaginative or emotionless
He gave her the news in a matter-of-fact way.
Synonyms
unsentimental,
flat,
dry,
plain,
dull,
sober,
down-to-earth,
mundane,
lifeless,
prosaic,
deadpan,
unimaginative,
unvarnished,
emotionless,
unembellished
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mundane
Definition
everyday, ordinary, and therefore not very interesting
Be willing to do mundane tasks with good grace.
Synonyms
ordinary,
routine,
commonplace,
banal,
everyday,
day-to-day,
vanilla (slang),
prosaic,
humdrum,
workaday
in the sense of no-nonsense
With his gruff Scottish voice and no-nonsense attitude, he's an imposing figure.
Synonyms
down-to-earth,
practical,
sensible,
realistic,
common-sense,
matter-of-fact,
hard-headed,
grounded
in the sense of ordinary
Definition
not special or different in any way
My life seems pretty ordinary compared to yours.
Synonyms
commonplace,
plain,
modest,
humble,
stereotyped,
pedestrian,
mundane,
vanilla (slang),
stale,
banal,
unremarkable,
prosaic,
run-of-the-mill,
humdrum,
homespun,
uninteresting,
workaday,
common or garden (informal),
unmemorable
in the sense of ordinary
Definition
usual or normal
It was just an ordinary day for us.
Synonyms
usual,
standard,
normal,
common,
established,
settled,
regular,
familiar,
household,
typical,
conventional,
routine,
stock,
everyday,
prevailing,
accustomed,
customary,
habitual,
quotidian,
wonted
in the sense of possible
Definition
capable of being done
Everything is possible if we want it enough.
Synonyms
feasible,
viable,
workable,
achievable,
within reach,
on (informal),
practicable,
attainable,
doable,
realizable,
Po$Ebl
in the sense of practicable
Definition
capable of being done
Teachers can only be expected to do what is practicable.
Synonyms
feasible,
possible,
viable,
workable,
achievable,
attainable,
doable,
within the realm of possibility,
performable
in the sense of pragmatic
Definition
concerned with practical consequences rather than theory
a pragmatic approach to the problems faced by Latin America
Synonyms
practical,
efficient,
sensible,
realistic,
down-to-earth,
matter-of-fact,
utilitarian,
businesslike,
hard-headed
in the sense of proficient
Definition
skilled
Many Egyptians are proficient in foreign languages.
Synonyms
skilled,
trained,
experienced,
qualified,
able,
expert,
masterly,
talented,
gifted,
capable,
efficient,
clever,
accomplished,
versed,
competent,
tasty (British, informal),
apt,
skilful,
adept,
conversant
in the sense of qualified
Definition
having completed a training or degree course and gained the relevant certificates
Demand has far outstripped supply of qualified teachers.
Synonyms
capable,
trained,
experienced,
seasoned,
able,
fit,
expert,
talented,
chartered,
efficient,
practised,
licensed,
certificated,
equipped,
accomplished,
eligible,
competent,
skilful,
adept,
knowledgeable,
proficient
in the sense of real
Definition
actual
No, it wasn't a dream. It was real.
Synonyms
true,
actual,
genuine,
concrete,
sincere,
tangible,
honest,
factual,
existent,
palpable,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
unimagined,
unfeigned
Additional synonyms
in the sense of realistic
a realistic view of what we can afford
Synonyms
practical,
real,
sensible,
rational,
common-sense,
sober,
pragmatic,
down-to-earth,
matter-of-fact,
businesslike,
level-headed,
hard-headed,
unsentimental,
unromantic,
grounded
in the sense of seasoned
The author is a seasoned academic.
Synonyms
experienced,
veteran,
mature,
practised,
old,
weathered,
hardened,
long-serving,
battle-scarred,
time-served,
well-versed
in the sense of serviceable
Definition
performing effectively
His Arabic was serviceable enough.
Synonyms
useful,
practical,
efficient,
helpful,
profitable,
convenient,
operative,
beneficial,
functional,
durable,
usable,
dependable,
advantageous,
utilitarian,
hard-wearing
in the sense of utilitarian
Definition
useful rather than beautiful
Bilal's office is a corner one, utilitarian and unglamorous.
Synonyms
functional,
useful,
practical,
plain,
efficient,
sensible,
pragmatic,
unpretentious,
soulless,
serviceable,
unadorned,
workaday
in the sense of viable
Definition
able to be put into practice
commercially viable products
Synonyms
workable,
practical,
feasible,
suitable,
realistic,
operational,
applicable,
usable,
practicable,
serviceable,
operable,
within the bounds of possibility
in the sense of workable
Definition
able to operate efficiently
This isn't a workable solution to the problem.
Synonyms
viable,
possible,
practical,
feasible,
practicable,
doable
in the sense of workaday
Definition
commonplace or ordinary
an escape from the tedium of the workaday world
Synonyms
ordinary,
common,
familiar,
practical,
routine,
everyday,
commonplace,
mundane,
prosaic,
run-of-the-mill,
humdrum,
bog-standard (British, Irish, slang)
in the sense of working
I used to have a good working knowledge of French.