exercise

American  

[ek-ser-sahyz] / ˈɛk sərˌsaɪz /

noun

• exercises
  plural

1. 

   bodily or mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement of health.

   Walking is good exercise.

   Synonyms:

   gymnastics, calisthenics, activity

   Antonyms:

   inaction

2. something done or performed as a means of practice or training.

   exercises for the piano.

3. a putting into action, use, operation, or effect.

   the exercise of caution.

   Synonyms:

   performance, practice, application, employment

4. a written composition, musical piece, or artistic work executed for practice or to illustrate a particular aspect of technique.

5. Often exercises. a traditional ceremony.

   graduation exercises.

6. a religious observance or service.

   Synonyms:

   ritual

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verb (used with object)

• exercises,
  present (3rd person singular)
• exercised,
  past participle,  past
• exercising
  present participle

1. to put through exercises, or forms of practice or exertion, designed to train, develop, condition, or the like.

   to exercise a horse.

   Synonyms:

   school, drill, discipline

2. to put (faculties, rights, etc.) into action, practice, or use.

   to exercise freedom of speech.

3. to use or display in one's action or procedure.

   to exercise judgment.

   Synonyms:

   practice, exert, apply, employ

4. to make use of (one's privileges, powers, etc.).

   to exercise one's constitutional rights.

5. to discharge (a function); perform.

   to exercise the duties of one's office.

6. to have as an effect.

   to exercise an influence on someone.

7. to worry; make uneasy; annoy.

   to be much exercised about one's health.

   Synonyms:

   trouble, try

verb (used without object)

• exercises,
  present (3rd person singular)
• exercised,
  past participle,  past
• exercising
  present participle

1. to go through exercises; take bodily exercise.

exercise British  

/ ˈɛksəˌsaɪz /

verb

1. to put into use; employ

   to exercise tact

2. (intr) to take exercise or perform exercises; exert one's muscles, etc, esp in order to keep fit

3. to practise using in order to develop or train

   to exercise one's voice

4. to perform or make proper use of

   to exercise one's rights

5. to bring to bear; exert

   to exercise one's influence

6. (often passive) to occupy the attentions of, esp so as to worry or vex

   to be exercised about a decision

7. military to carry out or cause to carry out, manoeuvres, simulated combat operations, etc

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noun

1. physical exertion, esp for the purpose of development, training, or keeping fit

2. mental or other activity or practice, esp in order to develop a skill

3. a set of movements, questions, tasks, etc, designed to train, improve, or test one's ability in a particular field

   piano exercises

4. a performance or work of art done as practice or to demonstrate a technique

5. the performance of a function; discharge

   the exercise of one's rights

   the object of the exercise is to win

6. (sometimes plural) military a manoeuvre or simulated combat operation carried out for training and evaluation

7. (usually plural) a ceremony or formal routine, esp at a school or college

   opening exercises

   graduation exercises

8. gymnastics a particular type of event, such as performing on the horizontal bar

Usage

What does exercise mean? Exercise is energetic physical or mental effort, usually for health or betterment, such as running or doing crossword puzzles. An exercise is an action that you do repeatedly to strengthen yourself or to get better at it. Push-ups are exercises you do to strengthen your body. Grammar exercises are often sentences you correct the grammar of to improve your understanding of grammar. To exercise means to practice the action, as in My doctor wants me to exercise more so that I will be healthier. Example: It has been difficult to fit in time for exercise lately.

Synonym Usage

Exercise, drill, practice refer to activities undertaken for training in some skill. Exercise is the most general term and may be either physical or mental: an exercise in arithmetic. Drill is disciplined repetition of set exercises, often performed in a group, directed by a leader: military drill. Practice is repeated or methodical exercise: Even great musicians require constant practice.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonexercise
  noun
• overexercise
  verb
• reexercise
  verb
• underexercise
  verb (used without object)
• exercisable
  adjective
• nonexercisable
  adjective
• postexercise
  adjective
• unexercisable
  adjective
• unexercised
  adjective
• well-exercised
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• exercises
  plural

Participles

• exercising
  present
• exercised
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• exercise
  simple
• exercises
  simple
• have exercised
  perfect
• has exercised
  perfect
• am exercising
  progressive
• are exercising
  progressive
• is exercising
  progressive
• have been exercising
  perfect progressive
• has been exercising
  perfect progressive

Past

• exercised
  simple
• had exercised
  perfect
• was exercising
  progressive
• were exercising
  progressive
• had been exercising
  perfect progressive

Future

• will exercise
  simple
• will have exercised
  perfect
• will be exercising
  progressive
• will have been exercising
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of exercise

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (noun), from Middle French exercice, from Latin exercitium, from exercit(us) “trained” (past participle of exercēre “to train,” from ex- ex- ¹ + -ercēre, combining form of arcēre “to restrain”) + -ium, noun suffix

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Explanation

Exercise is physical activity, like an exercise class, or the act of practicing anything — like people who exercise caution while crossing the street. If your dad tells you to exercise restraint in dealing with your brother who just broke your computer, he hasn't suggested that you tie your brother up — here exercise means "use" or "practice." This might remind you of the writing exercises your teacher gave you: practice in forming letters. In many kinds of exercise, the results come from doing something over and over — just ask anyone who exercises, or works out.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

exercise exercises exercised exercising

After 24 weeks, 27 of the 50 participants following the diet and exercise program had achieved remission, representing 54% of the intervention group.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

Margaret confronts the principal and tells him that Carrie was rattled by the drill and that the whole exercise is traumatizing to students.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

All of this exercise also helped my stress levels, especially in respect of sleeping.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Vigorous solo walks through Griffith Park are both my go-to exercise and meditations-in-motion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

“A little exercise isn’t going to kill you, Sara.”

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

For us older folks, ski-prep exercises are less about building muscle and more about protecting our joints, testing our balance and boosting our leg endurance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

Nicknamed 'The Wizard of the Dribble', he would perform stretching and breathing exercises, do extra training and take care of his diet - fasting and not drinking alcohol.

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026

However, researchers have not fully understood how often these exercises need to be performed to maintain their cardiovascular benefits.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026

As a scholar of the American presidency and deliberative democracy, I pay close attention to how the nation’s chief executive exercises power and communicates with the public.

From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2026

I went to physical therapy twice a week for a few months, and did some basic stretching and core exercises, which was a total drag.

From "I Will Always Write Back" by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda

"The citizens who went to the polls exercised their democratic right. High voter turnout is a positive thing, both within Arab society and in all communities in Israel."

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

"We have exercised patience and endured uncertainty for years, but our patience is now being taken advantage of," she said in a statement.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Participants who exercised more regularly also tended to feel more energetic and experience less stress the next day.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

There is going to be caution exercised, which is sort of built into the SEC’s innovation exemption.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

“I boldly entered...politics and business and exercised the rights I already possessed. I therefore claim the right to speak for the...women of the country...and I now announce myself as a candidate for the Presidency.”

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Still, the executive said that the industry’s outlook for the medium and long term is “very positive,” adding that people are exercising more, especially after the pandemic, and in countries like India and China.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

The results also revealed what happened when participants stopped exercising completely.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026

Since then, she had focused on exercising through activities such as gym workouts and running, as well as going to therapy to improve her wellbeing, she added.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

By a fluke of electoral timetabling, millions of voters around 6,000 miles apart will unite in exercising their democratic rights within days of each other.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

Mrs. Levy was on her exercising board treating her plumpness to some early morning bouncing.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

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Related Words

• act
• action
• activity
• drill
• examination
• lesson
• movement
• operation
• performance
• problem
• study
• task
• test
• training
• workout

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