What does practised mean?
Practised is the past tense and past participle of the British English verb "practise". It means to perform or exercise a skill, activity, or routine repeatedly, usually with the aim of improving performance or becoming proficient. A musician may practise a difficult passage, a language learner may practise conversation, or an athlete may practise a routine before competing. The word is neutral in tone and commonly appears in education, arts, sports, skills training, and professional preparation. British English distinguishes the verb "practise" from the noun "practice", whereas American English normally uses "practice" for both. The form "practised" therefore corresponds to "practiced" in US spelling. In everyday speech, people often say they have practised something even when their repeated preparation has been limited, but the word retains a clear association with deliberate rehearsal and effort.
verbTo perform or exercise a skill, activity, or routine repeatedly in order to improve or become proficient. It is the past tense and past participle of "practise".
- To perform or exercise a skill, activity, or routine repeatedly in order to improve performance or achieve proficiency.
"She practised the violin for an hour before the concert."
"The musicians practised together before the recording session."
"He practised answering interview questions in front of the mirror."
In British English, people practise an activity, but they practise it well.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of practised
The verb developed through Old French and Medieval Latin from the Latin "practicare", meaning to put into practice or perform. It is related to "practice", "practitioner", "practical", and "pragmatic", all of which reflect the same broad history of activity, doing, and practical action. The British spelling "practised" is the standard past-tense and past-participle form of "practise"; American English uses "practiced" instead.
Related word forms
How practised is actually used
In British English, "practise" is the verb and "practice" is the noun. In American English, both forms use the spelling "practice" for the verb, while the noun remains "practice".
Easily confused with practised
"Practised" is the British spelling of the past tense and past participle of "practise", while "practiced" is the US spelling.