habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.
had a habit of tapping his fingers
practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.
our practice is to honor all major credit cards
usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.
western-style dress is now common usage in international business
custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.
the custom of wearing black at funerals
wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.
as was her wont, she slept until noon
Example Sentences
Verb To be a good musician, you have to practice a lot. Have you been practicing your lines for the play? She had to practice flying in various weather conditions before she could get her pilot's license. Grandmother taught us to practice good manners. Practice what you preach—don't smoke if you tell your children not to smoke.Noun Being a good musician takes a lot of practice. I'm sure you'll learn your lines for the play with enough practice. They'll get better with practice. I'm late for trumpet practice. The marching band has practice every Wednesday afternoon. The team's practices usually last two hours. She has made a practice of volunteering at a homeless shelter one weekend a month. The country's poor sanitation practices have led to widespread disease. Burial practices vary around the world. It is common practice among my friends to not use capital letters in e-mail. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Both appeared to practice in some capacity on Wednesday. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2022 At one point in the early 1990s, he was licensed to practice medicine in Canada as well as eight US states, including Hawaii, California, Florida, and New Hampshire.BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Smith had the team pile onto buses and make the 45-minute drive south of its training center in Flowery Branch to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to practice in downtown Atlanta. George Henry, ajc, 7 Sep. 2022 The team will travel two days early, giving themselves an extra day to practice in the conditions and adjust to the time zone. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022 Thompson Page, an animal attorney in Connecticut, regularly serves as co-counsel with Rosenthal (who is licensed to practice only in New York and several federal districts). Hope Corrigan | The New York Times, The Week, 31 Aug. 2022 Appropriately enough, this week's HOH competition is the one where the players must practice tremendous patience in stacking very tiny cans while using a big pair of tweezers. Kyle Fowle, EW.com, 29 Aug. 2022 The only quarterback on campus and healthy enough to practice in the spring, Roberson quickly impressed Mora and the new UConn staff. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2022 The two lawyers were not licensed to practice in Florida, where the case is being heard. Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2022
Noun
Carnival said the National Cancer Institute Study was designed so that any promising diagnostic results could be swiftly put into widespread practice while the longer-term study — expected to last up to a decade — progresses.CBS News, 12 Sep. 2022 Carnival said the National Cancer Institute Study was designed so that any promising diagnostic results could be swiftly put into widespread practice while the longer-term study — expected to last up to a decade — progresses. Zeke Miller And Carla K. Johnson, Chron, 12 Sep. 2022 Carnival said the National Cancer Institute Study was designed so that any promising diagnostic results could be swiftly put into widespread practice while the longer-term study — expected to last up to a decade — progresses. Zeke Miller And, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2022 Dobbins, who returned to practice earlier last month, was determined to play in the season opener. Ryan Mcfadden, Baltimore Sun, 11 Sep. 2022 The Lions initially feared Ragnow would miss time because of the injury, but an MRI revealed the injury was not as serious as thought and Ragnow returned to practice Friday. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 11 Sep. 2022 Holmes returned to practice this week after missing the season opener. Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2022 Patrick returned to practice Monday for the first time since suffering a broken right thumb on July 28. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 When she was laid off at the end of 2020, she was actually relieved to get to put her learnings into practice.Good Housekeeping, 6 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English practisen, from Middle French practiser, from Medieval Latin practizare, alteration of practicare, from practica practice, noun, from Late Latin practice, from Greek praktikē, from feminine of praktikos