Basic Details
Word: Exercise
Part of Speech: Noun and verb
Meaning: Physical activity done to stay fit, or a task done to practise a skill. As a verb it can also mean to use something, such as a right or care.
Synonyms: workout, activity, practice, drill
Antonyms: rest, inactivity
How to Spell Exercise
Syllables: ex - er - cise
Tricky part: There is only one c, and it comes near the end: ex-er-cise. The ending is cise, not size or sise.
Watch out for: excercise, exersise, exercize
Memory tip: Say it in three chunks, ex-er-cise. The only c waits in the last chunk, which is spelt the same as the ends of concise and precise.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Dadi does breathing exercises on the terrace every morning.
Example 2: Finish exercise 4 in your grammar book before Monday.
Example 3: A long walk after dinner is good exercise.
Fun Fact
Latin exercere meant to keep someone busy or at work; one idea is that it first described driving farm animals out to work in the fields.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
excercise
a) c
b) r
c) s
d) x
Show answer
a) c. No c follows the x in exercise; its only c is in cise.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. stamina 2. exersise 3. posture 4. flexible
a) the way you hold your body when sitting or standing
b) the strength to keep going for a long time
c) able to bend easily without breaking
d) physical activity done to stay fit and healthy
Show answer
d) physical activity done to stay fit and healthy. The last part of exercise is cise; exersise slips in an s.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word exercise as used in the sentence:
Every adult citizen should exercise the right to vote.
a) ignore
b) sell
c) use
d) lose
Show answer
c) use. To exercise a right is to use it.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Pranayama, practised in yoga, is a kind of ____.
a) breathing exercise
b) card game
c) cricket shot
d) folk dance
Show answer
a) breathing exercise
2. A sign saying 'Exercise caution' asks you to ____.
a) be careful
b) run faster
c) do push-ups
d) take photographs
Show answer
a) be careful
