Use exercise for purposeful movement that supports health or fitness, whether it is a full workout or one repeated movement.
Use exercise for purposeful movement that supports health or fitness, whether it is a full workout or one repeated movement.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Opening the fridge is good exercise. | Walking briskly is good exercise. |
| She did an exercise for thirty minutes on the treadmill. | She did exercise for thirty minutes on the treadmill. |
| He needs many exercise after work. | He needs more exercise after work. |
| This medicine is an exercise for high blood pressure. | Regular exercise can help with high blood pressure. |
Use exercise for working out, for strengthening a muscle, or for giving an animal controlled movement.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She exercise every morning. | She exercises every morning. |
| I exercise my bike to work. | I ride my bike to work. |
| The trainer exercised the weights. | The trainer exercised his shoulders with weights. |
| The stable boy exercised on the horse around the yard. | The stable boy exercised the horse around the yard. |
Use exercise for a school task, a training drill, a military operation, a formal program, or a planned activity with a clear purpose.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The grammar exercise required jogging. | The grammar exercise required rewriting the sentence. |
| The navy held exercises in the gym only. | The navy held exercises at sea. |
| Graduation exercise starts at ten. | Graduation exercises start at ten. |
| The public-relations exercise was a set of push-ups. | The public-relations exercise was a media campaign. |
Use exercise in formal contexts with objects such as right, authority, option, influence, control, judgment, and caution.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The company exercised the treadmill option in the contract. | The company exercised the purchase option in the contract. |
| Please exercise slowly around the chemicals. | Please exercise caution around the chemicals. |
| The judge exercised a workout over the case. | The judge exercised authority over the case. |
| They exercised their right by running outside. | They exercised their right by voting. |
Use exercise in the pattern the exercise of when naming the use of power, restraint, judgment, rights, duties, or options.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The exercise power changed the policy. | The exercise of power changed the policy. |
| The exercise of restraint was a fitness class. | The exercise of restraint kept the situation calm. |
| The contract describes exercise the option. | The contract describes the exercise of the option. |
| Her exercise of judgment meant lifting weights. | Her exercise of judgment meant choosing carefully. |
Use exercise in this formal sense for issues that concern, worry, or preoccupy people, often in news, politics, or criticism.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The budget exercised in the gym all week. | The budget exercised the committee all week. |
| Voters exercised the issue by jogging. | The issue exercised voters before the election. |
| The mystery was exercising weights in the press. | The mystery was exercising the press. |
| These delays exercise about passengers. | These delays exercise passengers. |
Use context to separate physical activity, practice tasks or drills, the formal use of rights and powers, and the formal verb meaning to worry or preoccupy.
Exercise is often narrowed to workouts, but it also covers practice tasks, military drills, ceremonies, formal use of rights, and concerns that occupy attention.
From Old French exercice, from Latin exercitium, training or practice, from exercere, to keep busy, train, or put into action.
What does exercise mean?
Exercise can mean physical activity, a practice task or drill, the formal use of a right or power, or a concern that occupies attention.
Is exercise a noun or a verb?
Exercise is both a noun and a verb, as in regular exercise and she exercises daily.
What does exercise a right mean?
To exercise a right means to use it or put it into effect.
What does exercise caution mean?
To exercise caution means to use care and judgment in a risky situation.
What are school exercises?
School exercises are practice tasks, problems, or activities used to develop or test skill.
What are military exercises?
Military exercises are drills or operations carried out for training and readiness.
What does exercise mean when an issue exercises people?
In formal use, an issue that exercises people worries them, concerns them, or takes up their attention.
What is the origin of exercise?
Exercise comes through Old French from Latin exercitium, meaning training or practice.