exercise

1 of 2

noun

ex·​er·​cise ˈek-sər-ˌsīz How to pronounce exercise (audio)
1
a
: the act of bringing into play or realizing in action : use
the exercise of self-control
b
: the discharge of an official function or professional occupation
exercise of his judicial duties
c
: the act or an instance of carrying out the terms of an agreement (such as an option)
often used attributively
an option's exercise price
2
a
: regular or repeated use of a faculty or bodily organ
b
: bodily exertion for the sake of developing and maintaining physical fitness
trying to get more exercise
3
: something performed or practiced in order to develop, improve, or display a specific capability or skill
arithmetic exercises
vocal exercises
4
: a performance or activity having a strongly marked secondary or ulterior aspect
party politics has always been an exercise in compromiseH. S. Ashmore
5
a
: a maneuver, operation, or drill carried out for training and discipline
naval exercises
b
exercises plural : a program including speeches, announcements of awards and honors, and various traditional practices of secular or religious character
commencement exercises

exercise

2 of 2

verb

exercised; exercising

transitive verb

1
a
: to make effective in action : use
didn't exercise good judgment
b
: to bring to bear : exert
exercise influence
c
: to implement the terms of
exercise an option
2
a
: to use repeatedly in order to strengthen or develop
exercise a muscle
b
: to train by drills and maneuvers
exercise troops
c
: to put through exercises
exercise the horses
3
a
: to engage the attention and effort of
b
: to cause anxiety, alarm, or indignation in
the issues exercising voters this year

intransitive verb

: to take exercise
exercisable adjective

Examples of exercise in a Sentence

Noun Get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Swimming is my favorite kind of exercise. She did stretching exercises before her daily run. Do the writing exercise at the end of each chapter. The negotiations have gotten nowhere, and I see no reason to continue with this pointless exercise. Verb It's important to exercise every day. He eats right and exercises regularly. Bicycle riding exercises the leg muscles. The stable boys exercise the horses every morning. He didn't exercise good judgment. We just need to exercise common sense. She has been reluctant to exercise her authority. Exercise caution when using these chemicals.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Hall County Sheriff's Office deputy was with the office's K-9 teams, conducting a training exercise on Tuesday, when the encounter occurred, police said on social media. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 Thursday’s artillery exercise was the North’s second drill this week, a day after its ground forces appeared to infiltrate border guard posts during maneuvers. Brad Lendon, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 In October, Apollo released Live for Me, a sparse and raw EP that was, in a way, an exercise in further discomfort. Cat Cardenas, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2024 Depending on the severity of the condition, patients can manage Type 2 diabetes with diet management, exercise, oral medications or insulin injections. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 As much as anything else, Khosla and Andreessen could see this as a useful branding exercise. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 That means a 150 pound individual would need at least 68 grams of carbohydrates before exercise. Rebecca Jaspan, Mph, Health, 5 Mar. 2024 Strength and mobility exercises prescribed by a doctor or PT can also address any underlying tightness, imbalance, or other biomechanical issues that contributed to your injury in the first place. Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 4 Mar. 2024 Adjust the timing of other daily routines such as meals, exercise and medications, all of which are unconscious time cues for your internal body clock. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
Women who participated in the study lowered their mortality risk by 18% by exercising 140 minutes per week. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Weather officials are advising residents to exercise caution as the possibility of thunderstorms looms. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 When asked about surge of weapons into Israel, some U.S. lawmakers who sit on committees with oversight of national security said the Biden administration must exercise its leverage over the government of Israel. John Hudson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 This includes the following: Activity - working out or exercising. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2024 Motorists should exercise extra caution and be prepared for changes in visibility. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 And after exercising, people can reach for easy protein-rich and carb-rich snacks such as smoothies with Greek yogurt or protein powder, chocolate milk, or eggs on toast. Rebecca Jaspan, Mph, Health, 5 Mar. 2024 Apple exercises it to a high degree over its ecosystem and Google, through Android, traditionally has not. Zak Doffman, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 According to the Michigan Department of State, selecting ‘uncommitted’ implies that the voter is exercising a party vote but not committed to the candidates on the ballot. Margie Cullen, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exercise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French exercice, from Latin exercitium, from exercitare to train, exercise, frequentative of exercēre to train, occupy, from ex- + arcēre to enclose, hold off — more at ark

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of exercise was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near exercise

Cite this Entry

“Exercise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exercise. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exercise

1 of 2 noun
ex·​er·​cise ˈek-sər-ˌsīz How to pronounce exercise (audio)
1
: the act of putting into use, action, or practice
the exercise of power
2
: bodily activity for the sake of physical fitness
get plenty of fresh air and exercise
3
: something done to develop skill
arithmetic exercises
finger exercises
4
plural : a program of songs, speeches, and announcements of awards and honors
graduation exercises

exercise

2 of 2 verb
exercised; exercising
1
: to put into use : exert
exercise patience
exercise authority
2
a
: to use again and again in order to strengthen or develop
exercise a muscle
b
: to put through exercises : give exercise to
exercise the dog
3
: to worry, alarm, or annoy about something
the people were exercised about pollution
4
: to take exercise
exercises every day
exercisable adjective
exerciser noun

Medical Definition

exercise

1 of 2 noun
ex·​er·​cise ˈek-sər-ˌsīz How to pronounce exercise (audio)
1
: regular or repeated use of a faculty or bodily organ
2
: bodily exertion for the sake of developing and maintaining physical fitness

exercise

2 of 2 verb
exercised; exercising

transitive verb

1
: to use repeatedly in order to strengthen or develop (as a muscle)
2
: to put through exercises

intransitive verb

: to take exercise

Legal Definition

exercise

1 of 2 noun
ex·​er·​cise ˈek-sər-ˌsīz How to pronounce exercise (audio)
1
: the discharge of an official function or professional occupation
2
: the act or an instance of carrying out the terms of an agreement (as an option)

exercise

2 of 2 transitive verb
exercised; exercising
1
: to make effective in action
exercising power
2
: to bring to bear
exercise influence
3
: to implement the terms of (as an option)

More from Merriam-Webster on exercise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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