adj
Common
practicing
Practicing (adj) means Actively working in a profession or actively following the customs of a religion. Example: “My aunt is a practicing doctor who still sees patients every day.”
adj
1
Actively working in a profession or actively following the customs of a religion.
"My aunt is a practicing doctor who still sees patients every day."
"My uncle is a practicing dentist."
"She is a practicing lawyer in Chicago."
"He was raised in a practicing Catholic household."
How to use practicing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishActively engaged in a profession, religion, or skill on an ongoing basis.
UK vs US
American spelling; British English uses "practising".
Common pairings
practicing doctor
practicing Christian
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Word forms
- Plural
- practicings
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My aunt is a _____ doctor who still sees patients every day.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for practicing
See all rhymes for practicing →Frequently asked questions
What does “practicing” mean?
The word “practicing” means actively working in a profession or actively following the customs of a religion. In plain terms, actively engaged in a profession, religion, or skill on an ongoing basis.
How do you use “practicing” in a sentence?
Here is “practicing” used in a sentence: “She is a practicing lawyer in Chicago.”
What part of speech is “practicing”?
“Practicing” is an adjective.
Is “practicing” a common word?
“Practicing” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Which spelling is correct, practicing or practising?
In American English, "practicing" is the standard spelling. In British English the verb is spelled "practise," so the -ing form is written "practising," while "practice" with a c is reserved for the noun. Both spellings are correct within their own variety of English.
What is the difference between a practicing and a non-practicing lawyer or doctor?
A practicing lawyer or doctor is actively working in the profession and seeing clients or patients. A non-practicing one holds the qualification but is not currently working in the field — for example, someone who has moved into teaching, management, or retirement.
What is the opposite of practicing?
The usual opposite is "non-practicing," which works for both professions and religions. For religion specifically, "lapsed" is a common alternative, as in "a lapsed Catholic" — someone who no longer follows the customs of the faith.
