exercise
/ˈek.sə.saɪz/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Physical activity you do to stay healthy or improve fitness. It can be planned, like a workout, or simple movement like walking.
- I do exercise every morning.
- Regular exercise helps you stay fit.
- She needs more exercise after work.
verb
To make your body move for health or fitness. It also means to use a skill, right, or power in a formal way.
- You should exercise more often.
- He exercises at the gym three times a week.
- The judge can exercise that power.
Adinary Nuance
Exercise is wider than workout or training. Use exercise for any physical activity that helps health, including walking or stretching. Use workout for a planned fitness session, and training for practice with a goal, like sport or competition.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tập thể dục
- Spanish
- ejercicio
- Chinese
- 锻炼
- Japanese
- 運動
- Korean
- 운동
Etymology
Exercise comes from Latin exercitium, meaning “practice” or “training.” It entered English through Old French in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
regular exercisedo exerciseexercise routineexercise equipment
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is exercise a countable noun?
- Usually, no. We often say “I need more exercise,” not “an exercise” for general fitness.
- What is the difference between exercise and workout?
- Exercise is the broader word. Workout usually means a planned session of exercise.
- Can exercise be a verb?
- Yes. It means to do physical activity, or to use a right or power formally.
- Is exercise formal or informal?
- It is neutral and common in both everyday speech and formal writing.