exercise
exercise — noun
1. bodily movement or physical effort that people do on a regular basis to stay hea
bodily movement or physical effort that people do on a regular basis to stay healthy and become stronger
Quan does at least thirty minutes of exercise every morning before work.
do + exercise with duration (thirty minutes)
The doctor told Omar that regular exercise could help lower his blood pressure.
Walking is a gentle form of exercise that most people can do easily.
form of exercise + adjective (gentle)
After months of very little exercise, Daichi found it hard to run up the stairs.
The gym near the station offers many types of exercise, from yoga to weightlifting.
types of exercise with examples (yoga, weightlifting)
- do exercise
- get exercise
- take exercise
- regular exercise
- gentle exercise
- vigorous exercise
- lack of exercise
- physical activity
broader term — includes any bodily movement, not just for fitness
- workout
more specific — refers to a planned, structured exercise session
- training
implies a goal-oriented programme, often for a sport or competition
- inactivity
lack of movement or exercise
- rest
period of recovery, opposite of exertion
Grammar Patterns
do + exercise
get + exercise
form of + exercise
Usage Note
Uncountable when referring to physical activity in general. For specific movements or routines, use the countable plural form 'exercises' (e.g. 'stretching exercises').
Common Mistakes
2. a planned activity or set of actions designed to develop a particular skill or t
a planned activity or set of actions designed to develop a particular skill or to achieve a specific result
The sales team did a role-playing exercise to practise handling difficult customers.
role-playing exercise for practising a skill
Writing a short summary each week was a useful exercise in clear thinking.
exercise in + gerund/noun phrase (clear thinking)
The military exercise involved over two thousand soldiers and several aircraft.
The company ran a simulation exercise to prepare staff for emergency situations.
simulation exercise for emergency preparedness
- role-playing exercise
- military exercise
- simulation exercise
- training exercise
- team-building exercise
- an exercise in patience/futility
- drill
more repetitive and focused on discipline
- practice
broader — ongoing skill development through repetition
- simulation
imitates real conditions for training
Grammar Patterns
exercise + in + noun phrase
role-playing + exercise
military + exercise
Usage Note
Often used in the pattern 'an exercise in + abstract noun', describing an activity that tests or develops a particular quality. Also common in military and business contexts.
Common Mistakes
3. a short written task in a textbook or worksheet that helps students practise wha
a short written task in a textbook or worksheet that helps students practise what they are learning
The teacher asked the class to complete exercise ten for homework.
exercise + number (exercise ten)
Vikram finished the grammar exercise in less than ten minutes.
Each chapter of the textbook ends with a set of review exercises.
review exercises at the end of a chapter
The listening exercise required students to fill in the missing words.
- grammar exercise
- vocabulary exercise
- listening exercise
- reading exercise
- review exercises
- do exercise five
- task
broader — any piece of work assigned
- assignment
usually longer and graded
- problem
typically used for maths or logic questions
Grammar Patterns
exercise + number
grammar/reading/math + exercise
Usage Note
In textbooks and workbooks, exercises are usually numbered and focus on specific skills such as grammar, vocabulary, listening, or reading comprehension.
Common Mistakes
4. the deliberate act of using something such as a power, a right, a skill, or a pe
the deliberate act of using something such as a power, a right, a skill, or a personal quality
The exercise of patience is sometimes harder than it sounds.
exercise of + abstract quality (patience)
Citizens should understand the proper exercise of their voting rights.
The judge's decision was a fair exercise of legal authority.
exercise of + legal authority
Learning to play the piano requires the daily exercise of discipline.
- exercise of power
- exercise of authority
- exercise of rights
- exercise of discretion
- exercise of patience
- use
more general and less formal
- application
implies putting something into practical effect
- employment
formal, often with tools, methods, or strategies
Grammar Patterns
exercise + of + right/power/authority/discipline
Usage Note
This sense is formal and typically appears in legal, political, or professional contexts. It emphasises the active and deliberate nature of using a right or capacity.
Common Mistakes
5. a ceremonial gathering, most commonly for a graduation, where people give speech
a ceremonial gathering, most commonly for a graduation, where people give speeches and take part in traditional music or other formal activities
The graduation exercises will take place in the main hall on Friday.
graduation exercises — collocation for ceremony
Opening exercises at the conference included a speech by the mayor.
Parents are invited to attend the commencement exercises next month.
commencement exercises — US term for graduation
The school's award exercises ended with a performance by the choir.
- graduation exercises
- commencement exercises
- opening exercises
- closing exercises
- award exercises
- ceremony
broader — any formal event
- commencement
American English term for graduation ceremony
- graduation
the event itself
Grammar Patterns
graduation + exercises
commencement + exercises
award + exercises
Usage Note
In American English, 'exercises' is commonly used in the plural to mean a formal ceremony, especially 'graduation exercises' or 'commencement exercises'. This usage is less common in British English.
Common Mistakes
exercise — verb
1. to move your body or take part in physical activities as a way of staying health
to move your body or take part in physical activities as a way of staying healthy and keeping fit
Ingrid exercises for an hour every evening after she finishes work.
intransitive: exercise + for + duration + frequency
The doctor advised Hugo to exercise at least three times a week.
Meera exercises her shoulder muscles with light weights and stretches.
transitive: exercise + body part (shoulder muscles)
Brian finds it hard to exercise regularly during the cold winter months.
Many people prefer to exercise outdoors when the weather is warm and sunny.
exercise + adverb of place (outdoors)
- exercise regularly
- exercise daily
- exercise outdoors
- exercise your muscles
- exercise your heart
- rest
to stop moving and recover
- sit around
to be inactive
Grammar Patterns
exercise + adverb (regularly/daily)
exercise + body part (shoulder muscles)
Usage Note
When used intransitively (no object), it means general physical activity. When used transitively, it requires a specific body part or muscle group as the object, e.g., 'exercise your back muscles'.
Common Mistakes
2. to lead a pet or other animal outside for physical activity, thereby keeping its
to lead a pet or other animal outside for physical activity, thereby keeping its body fit and its mind stimulated
Omar exercises his dog every morning by taking her to the park.
exercise + pet (dog) with destination
The stable workers exercise the horses twice a day in the field.
If you do not exercise your dog enough, it may become restless at home.
conditional: if you do not exercise + animal
Eliska asked a neighbour to exercise her cat while she was away on holiday.
- exercise the dog
- exercise the horse
- exercise your pet
Grammar Patterns
exercise + dog/horse/pet
Usage Note
Only used transitively — the animal must be stated as the object. For dogs, 'walk' is a more common everyday verb; 'exercise' implies a purposeful fitness activity.
3. to use a power, right, or personal quality in a deliberate and purposeful way
to use a power, right, or personal quality in a deliberate and purposeful way
Shareholders can exercise their right to vote at the annual meeting.
exercise + right to + infinitive
The manager exercised her authority to cancel the project.
Voters should exercise caution when reading political advertisements.
exercise + caution — common collocation
Rafael exercised great patience while teaching the new students.
- exercise a right
- exercise authority
- exercise power
- exercise caution
- exercise patience
- exercise discretion
- exercise judgment
- relinquish
to give up a right or power
- ignore
to deliberately not use a right or quality
Grammar Patterns
exercise + right/authority/power
exercise + caution/patience/restraint
Usage Note
Formal register. Common in legal, political, and professional contexts. Frequent objects: right, power, authority, discretion, caution, patience, restraint, judgment.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- exercisernounB2
- exercisableadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words relate to bodily movement, but they emphasise different aspects. 'Exercise' is the broadest daily term for any movement done for fitness. 'Workout' is more specific and informal — it refers to a planned, structured session, often at a gym ('a tough workout at the gym'). 'Training' implies a longer-term programme with a goal, such as preparing for a sport or competition ('training for a marathon'). 'Physical activity' is the most general and neutral term, covering any movement including daily tasks like gardening or housework. 'Exertion' focuses on the effort or strain involved, rather than the activity itself. For everyday use, say 'I need more exercise'; for a single gym visit, say 'good workout'; for a structured plan, say 'strength training'; and for casual mentions of movement, use 'physical activity'.
Common collocations
Etymology
From Latin 'exercitium' meaning 'training or practice', based on the verb 'exercere' meaning 'to keep at work, to drive, to train' — formed from 'ex-' (out) and 'arcere' (to keep in, enclose). The word entered English through Old French 'exercice' in the 14th century, originally referring to physical or mental training.