exercise

Pluralexercises

Formsexercises, exercising, exercised

1. 1
   physical activitynouncountable or uncountable

   Movement or activity you do to keep your body or mind strong and healthy.

   Like brushing your teeth: doing it often keeps you healthy.

   Regular exercise keeps your heart strong.

   Walking is a simple form of exercise.

   UsageYou get exercise, but you do exercises like push-ups.

   Similaractivity, training, exertion, workout

   Oppositeinactivity, rest

2. 2
   to use powerverbtransitive

   To use a right, choice, or power you have, or to show a quality such as care.

   Like using a coupon you were given instead of letting it go to waste.

   Citizens can exercise their right to vote.

   She exercised her option to buy the house.

   UsageSay exercise a right or exercise care.

   Similaruse, employ, exert, apply, invoke

   Oppositewaive, forgo

   Note
3. 3
   practice tasknouncountable

   A task you do to get better at a skill.

   Like practicing the same song until you can play it well.

   The teacher gave us a writing exercise.

   These math exercises help you practice.

   UsageSay what it practices: a writing exercise, math exercises.

   Similardrill, task, activity, assignment, problem

   Note
4. 4
   verbintransitive

   To move your body to stay fit and healthy.

   I exercise every morning before breakfast.

   She exercises at the gym three times a week.

   UsageSay you exercise at the gym or every day.

   Similartrain

   Oppositerest

5. 5
   nouncountable

   Something people do to reach a certain goal, often judged by how well it works.

   The meeting felt like a pointless exercise because nothing changed afterward.

   The company said the job cuts were a money-saving exercise.

   UsageAn exercise in something says what an effort really was, as in an exercise in futility.

   Similareffort, undertaking, operation, project

6. 6
   nouncountable

   A planned practice event where soldiers or emergency workers train for real situations.

   The army held a large exercise in the desert last month.

   Firefighters and police took part in an exercise to prepare for a train crash.

   UsageArmies and rescue teams hold exercises to practice.

   Similardrill, maneuver, rehearsal

7. 7
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The use of a power, right, or skill, or the doing of a job or duty.

   Like using a key to open a door: having it is not enough, so you must use it.

   The exercise of power must follow the law.

   Voting is the exercise of a right that every citizen has.

   UsageSay the exercise of a right or a power.

   Note
8. 8
   verbtransitive

   To train a person, an animal, or a part of the body or mind to make it stronger.

   Like lifting weights to build muscle: but for the mind too.

   Puzzles exercise your brain.

   Swimming exercises almost every muscle.

   Similartrain, drill, work, develop, stretch

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