Definition Definition

exercise - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'exercise' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Exercise [ n.]
- The act of exercising; a setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use; habitual activity; occupation, in general; practice.
- Exertion for the sake of training or improvement whether physical, intellectual, or moral; practice to acquire skill, knowledge, virtue, perfectness, grace, etc.
- Bodily exertion for the sake of keeping the organs and functions in a healthy state; hygienic activity; as, to take exercise on horseback.
- The performance of an office, a ceremony, or a religious duty.
- That which is done for the sake of exercising, practicing, training, or promoting skill, health, mental, improvement, moral discipline, etc.; that which is assigned or prescribed for such ends; hence, a disquisition; a lesson; a task; as, military or naval exercises; musical exercises; an exercise in composition.
- That which gives practice; a trial; a test.
2 . Exercise [ v. i.]
- To exercise one's self, as under military training; to drill; to take exercise; to use action or exertion; to practice gymnastics; as, to exercise for health or amusement.
3 . Exercise [ v. t.]
- To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to; to put in action habitually or constantly; to school or train; to exert repeatedly; to busy.
- To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop; hence, also, to improve by practice; to discipline, and to use or to for the purpose of training; as, to exercise arms; to exercise one's self in music; to exercise troops.
- 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; to affect; to discipline; as, exercised with pain.
- To put in practice; to carry out in action; to perform the duties of; to use; to employ; to practice; as, to exercise authority; to exercise an office.

Meaning of 'exercise' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . exercise [ n]
Meaning (1):
- (usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches
Example in sentence:
  • academic exercises
Meaning (2):
- an action, often used negatively and without consequences
Example in sentence:
  • an exercise in cheap talk;
  • an exercise in futility
Meaning (3):
- the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
Example in sentence:
  • he did some exercising;
  • the doctor recommended regular exercise;
  • the physical exertion required by his work kept him fit
Meaning (4):
- the act of using
Example in sentence:
  • he warned against the use of narcotic drugs;
  • skilled in the utilization of computers
Meaning (5):
- systematic training by multiple repetitions
Example in sentence:
  • practice makes perfect
Meaning (6):
- a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding
Example in sentence:
  • you must work the examples at the end of each chapter in the textbook
7 . exercise [ v]
Meaning (7):
- put to use
Example in sentence:
  • exert one's power or influence
Meaning (8):
- give a workout to
Example in sentence:
  • My personal trainer works me hard;
  • Some parents exercise their infants;
  • this puzzle will exercise your mind;
  • work one's muscles
Meaning (9):
- learn by repetition
Example in sentence:
  • Pianists practice scales;
  • We drilled French verbs every day
Meaning (10):
- carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions
Example in sentence:
  • practice law
Meaning (11):
- do physical exercise
Example in sentence:
  • She works out in the gym every day