Definition

Noun: 1. Bodily activity for health and fitness: The activity of exerting your muscles through movement to improve or maintain physical health and fitness. 2. A specific session of such activity: A particular instance or set of movements done for this purpose.

Usage

• Used as an uncountable noun to refer to the general concept of activity for fitness.
• Used as a countable noun to refer to specific activities or sessions.
• Often follows verbs like , , , or .

Examples

• General/Uncountable:
  • Regular physical exercise is essential for a healthy heart.
  • The doctor emphasized the importance of physical exercise for mental well-being.
• Specific/Countable:
  • She does different physical exercises for strength and flexibility.
  • Walking and swimming are excellent forms of physical exercise.

Advanced Usage

• "to take exercise": A slightly formal way to say to engage in physical activity.
  • He makes a point to take exercise every morning.
• In a medical or prescriptive context, it can be a recommended treatment.
  • The physiotherapist designed a program of physical exercise for rehabilitation.

Variants and Related Words

• Exercise (n): A more general term that can mean physical exercise, mental exercise, or a task. In context, it often means .
  • I need to get more exercise.
• Workout (n): A session of vigorous physical exercise or training.
  • She finished her morning workout.
• Physical activity (n): A broader term encompassing any bodily movement that uses energy.
  • Even household chores count as physical activity.

Synonyms

• Workout
• Physical training
• Physical activity
• Exertion (emphasizes the effort)

Related Phrases

• Get exercise: To obtain or engage in physical exercise.
  • It's hard to get enough exercise during the winter.
• Do exercises: To perform specific physical movements.
  • The trainer showed us how to do the exercises correctly.

Related Idioms

• No pain, no gain: Often used in the context of strenuous physical exercise, suggesting that hard work and discomfort are necessary to achieve results.
  • He pushed through the tough physical exercise, believing in "no pain, no gain".

Noun

1. the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
   • the doctor recommended regular exercise
   • he did some exercising
   • the physical exertion required by his work kept him fit