transitive verb exercised, exercising
- to put into action; use; employ: to exercise self-control
- to carry out (duties, etc.); perform; fulfill
- Now Rare to use habitually; practice; train: used reflexively or in the passive: she was exercised in virtue
- to put (the body, a muscle, the mind, a skill, etc.) into use so as to develop or train
- to drill (troops)
- to engage the attention and energy of, esp. so as to worry, perplex, or harass: used esp. in the passive: greatly exercised about the decision
- to exert or have (influence, control, authority, etc.)
intransitive verb
to take exercise; do exercises