Practice vs. Implement — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 20, 2024
Practice involves repeated exercise to acquire or maintain proficiency in an activity, while implement refers to putting a plan, decision, or tool into effect.
Difference Between Practice and Implement
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Practice is the act of repeatedly performing an activity or exercise to improve or maintain one's skill in that area. It involves a process of ongoing repetition and refinement. In contrast, to implement is to put into action or execute a plan, decision, policy, or tool, often after a period of planning or deliberation.
While practice is centered around the development and enhancement of skills through continuous repetition, implementation focuses on the execution phase, where ideas, strategies, or tools are actively put to use. Practice is often about the journey of learning and improvement, whereas implementation is about the act of bringing plans or concepts into reality.
Practice can be applied to a wide range of activities including sports, music, languages, and professional skills, emphasizing the personal growth and skill development aspect. On the other hand, implementation is more commonly associated with projects, policies, strategies, and the use of tools or technologies, highlighting the application and realization aspect.
The outcome of practice is typically an improvement in skill, technique, or knowledge in a particular area, leading to increased proficiency or mastery. In contrast, the outcome of implementation is the realization of a plan or strategy, which can lead to changes in processes, systems, or behaviors within an organization or individual's activities.
It's important to recognize that while practice and implementation serve different purposes, they can be interconnected. Effective implementation of a plan or tool may require the practice of new skills or processes, and the continuous practice of a skill may involve implementing new techniques or methods to achieve improvement.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Repeated exercise to improve or maintain proficiency in an activity.
Putting a plan, decision, or tool into effect.
Focus
Skill development and refinement through repetition.
Execution of plans, strategies, or utilization of tools.
Contexts
Often associated with personal skill development in areas like sports, music, and professions.
Typically related to projects, policies, strategies, and technologies in various fields.
Outcome
Improvement in skill, technique, or knowledge.
Realization of a plan, leading to changes or new processes.
Process
Involves ongoing repetition and refinement.
Involves the application and execution phase.
Compare with Definitions
Practice
Continuous repetition of an activity to improve skill.
Daily practice on the piano enhances musical proficiency.
Implement
The act of putting a plan or decision into action.
The company implemented a new employee training program.
Practice
Aims at personal or professional growth and development.
Regular practice in public speaking boosted her confidence.
Implement
Involves executing strategies, policies, or using tools effectively.
The new software was implemented to streamline workflow.
Practice
Involves refining techniques and strategies over time.
She adjusted her practice routine to focus on weak areas.
Implement
Leads to tangible changes or the realization of objectives.
The implemented changes resulted in a significant increase in efficiency.
Practice
Can be solitary or guided by a coach or mentor.
His swimming practice, under a coach's guidance, led to significant improvements.
Implement
Can be organizational, technological, or personal in scope.
After thorough planning, the new policy was implemented smoothly.
Practice
Is often self-motivated and self-directed, tailored to individual needs.
He developed a personalized practice schedule to prepare for the marathon.
Implement
Requires planning, resources, and sometimes training for effective execution.
Implementing the new system required extensive staff training.
Practice
The actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it
The principles and practice of teaching
The recommendations proved too expensive to put into practice
Implement
A tool, utensil, or other piece of equipment that is used for a particular purpose
Garden implements
Practice
The customary, habitual, or expected procedure or way of doing of something
Modern child-rearing practices
Product placement is common practice in American movies
Implement
Performance of an obligation.
Practice
Repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it
It must have taken a lot of practice to become so fluent
Implement
Put (a decision, plan, agreement, etc.) into effect
The scheme to implement student loans
Practice
US spelling of practise
Implement
A tool, utensil, or other piece of equipment used in doing work
A gardening implement.
Practice
To do or perform habitually or customarily; make a habit of
Practices courtesy in social situations.
Implement
An article used to outfit or equip someone
Ecclesiastical implements.
Practice
To do or perform (something) repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill
Practice a dance step.
Implement
A means of achieving an end; an instrument or agent.
Practice
To give lessons or repeated instructions to; drill
Practiced the students in handwriting.
Implement
To put into practical effect; carry out
Implement the new procedures.
Practice
To work at, especially as a profession
Practice law.
Implement
To supply with implements.
Practice
To carry out in action; observe
Practices a religion piously.
Implement
To bring about; to put into practice; to carry out.
It’s a good thought, but it will be a difficult thing to implement.
Practice
(Obsolete) To plot (something evil).
Implement
A tool or instrument for working with.
They carried an assortment of gardening implements in the truck.
Practice
To do something repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill
With any musical instrument, you need to practice to get better.
Implement
That which fulfills or supplies a want or use; esp., an instrument, tool, or utensil, as supplying a requisite to an end; as, the implements of trade, of husbandry, or of war.
Genius must have talent as its complement and implement.
Practice
To work at a profession
How long has that lawyer been practicing?.
Implement
To accomplish; to fulfill.
Revenge . . . executed and implemented by the hand of Vanbeest Brown.
Practice
To do or perform something habitually or repeatedly
Why not practice in the same manner that you preach?.
Implement
To provide with an implement or implements; to cause to be fulfilled, satisfied, or carried out, by means of an implement or implements.
The chief mechanical requisites of the barometer are implemented in such an instrument as the following.
Practice
(Archaic) To intrigue or plot.
Implement
To fulfill or perform, as a contract or an engagement.
Practice
A habitual or customary action or way of doing something
Makes a practice of being punctual.
Implement
Instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end
Practice
Repeated performance of an activity in order to learn or perfect a skill
Practice will make you a good musician.
Implement
Apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design;
Implement a procedure
Practice
A session of preparation or performance undertaken to acquire or polish a skill
Goes to piano practice weekly.
Scheduled a soccer practice for Saturday.
Implement
Ensure observance of laws and rules;
Apply the rules to everyone
Practice
(Archaic) The skill so learned or perfected.
Implement
Pursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue;
Did he go through with the treatment?
He implemented a new economic plan
She followed up his recommendations with a written proposal
Practice
The condition of being skilled through repeated exercise
Out of practice.
Practice
The act or process of doing something; performance or action
A theory that is difficult to put into practice.
Practice
Exercise of an occupation or profession
The practice of law.
Practice
The business of a professional person
An obstetrician with her own practice.
Practice
A habitual or customary action or act
That company engages in questionable business practices. Facial tattooing is a standard practice among certain peoples.
Practice
(Law) The procedure for trial of cases in a court of law, usually specified by rules.
Practice
The act of tricking or scheming, especially with malicious intent.
Practice
A trick, scheme, or intrigue.
Practice
Repetition of an activity to improve a skill.
He will need lots of practice with the lines before he performs them.
Practice
An organized event for the purpose of performing such repetition.
Being on a team is hard: you're always having to go to practice while everyone else is taking it easy.
I have choir practice every Sunday after church.
Practice
The ongoing pursuit of a craft or profession, particularly in medicine or the fine arts.
Practice
(countable) A place where a professional service is provided, such as a general practice.
She ran a thriving medical practice.
Practice
The observance of religious duties that a church requires of its members.
Practice
A customary action, habit, or behaviour; a manner or routine.
It is the usual practice of employees there to wear neckties only when meeting with customers.
It is good practice to check each door and window before leaving.
Practice
Actual operation or experiment, in contrast to theory.
That may work in theory, but will it work in practice?
Practice
(legal) The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts.
This firm of solicitors is involved in family law practice.
Practice
Skilful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; stratagem; artifice.
Practice
(math) A easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.
Practice
(US) practise
Practice
Frequently repeated or customary action; habitual performance; a succession of acts of a similar kind; usage; habit; custom; as, the practice of rising early; the practice of making regular entries of accounts; the practice of daily exercise.
A heart . . . exercised with covetous practices.
Practice
Customary or constant use; state of being used.
Obsolete words may be revived when they are more sounding or more significant than those in practice.
Practice
Skill or dexterity acquired by use; expertness.
Practice
Actual performance; application of knowledge; - opposed to theory.
There are two functions of the soul, - contemplation and practice.
There is a distinction, but no opposition, between theory and practice; each, to a certain extent, supposes the other; theory is dependent on practice; practice must have preceded theory.
Practice
Systematic exercise for instruction or discipline; as, the troops are called out for practice; she neglected practice in music.
Practice
Application of science to the wants of men; the exercise of any profession; professional business; as, the practice of medicine or law; a large or lucrative practice.
Practice is exercise of an art, or the application of a science in life, which application is itself an art.
Practice
Skillful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; art; stratagem; artifice; plot; - usually in a bad sense.
He sought to have that by practice which he could not by prayer.
Practice
A easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.
Practice
The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts.
Practice
To do or perform frequently, customarily, or habitually; to make a practice of; as, to practice gaming.
Practice
To exercise, or follow, as a profession, trade, art, etc., as, to practice law or medicine.
Practice
To exercise one's self in, for instruction or improvement, or to acquire discipline or dexterity; as, to practice gunnery; to practice music.
Practice
To put into practice; to carry out; to act upon; to commit; to execute; to do.
As this advice ye practice or neglect.
Practice
To make use of; to employ.
In malice to this good knight's wife, I practiced Ubaldo and Ricardo to corrupt her.
Practice
To teach or accustom by practice; to train.
In church they are taught to love God; after church they are practiced to love their neighbor.
Practice
To perform certain acts frequently or customarily, either for instruction, profit, or amusement; as, to practice with the broadsword or with the rifle; to practice on the piano.
Practice
To learn by practice; to form a habit.
They shall practice how to live secure.
Practice first over yourself to reign.
Practice
To try artifices or stratagems.
He will practice against thee by poison.
Practice
To apply theoretical science or knowledge, esp. by way of experiment; to exercise or pursue an employment or profession, esp. that of medicine or of law.
[I am] little inclined to practice on others, and as little that others should practice on me.
Practice
A customary way of operation or behavior;
It is their practice to give annual raises
They changed their dietary pattern
Practice
Systematic training by multiple repetitions;
Practice makes perfect
Practice
Translating an idea into action;
A hard theory to put into practice
Differences between theory and praxis of communism
Practice
The exercise of a profession;
The practice of the law
I took over his practice when he retired
Practice
Knowledge of how something is usually done;
It is not the local practice to wear shorts to dinner
Practice
Learn by repetition;
We drilled French verbs every day
Pianists practice scales
Practice
Avail oneself to;
Apply a principle
Practice a religion
Use care when going down the stairs
Use your common sense
Practice non-violent resistance
Practice
Carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions;
Practice law
Practice
Engage in a rehearsal (of)
Common Curiosities
Why is practice important?
Practice is crucial for skill development, mastery, and maintaining proficiency in various activities.
How is "implement" different from "practice"?
Implement involves putting plans, decisions, or tools into action, unlike practice, which is about skill improvement through repetition.
Can practice and implementation occur simultaneously?
Yes, implementing new techniques or methods may require practice, and practice routines may involve implementing new strategies.
Can implementation be successful without prior planning?
Successful implementation usually requires careful planning, although some contexts may allow for more flexible or adaptive approaches.
What does "practice" mean?
Practice refers to the repeated performance of activities or exercises to improve or maintain skills.
Is implementation only relevant in a business context?
While often used in business, implementation can apply to any context where plans, policies, or tools need to be put into effect.
What are some challenges of implementation?
Challenges can include resistance to change, lack of resources, and the need for adequate training or adaptation.
Does practice always lead to perfection?
While practice aims to improve proficiency, it may not always lead to perfection due to various limiting factors.
How important is feedback in the practice process?
Feedback is crucial in practice for identifying areas of improvement and refining techniques.
What does it mean to implement a plan?
To implement a plan means to execute or bring it into action, often leading to changes or the achievement of specific goals.
How does one know when to stop practicing and start implementing?
The transition from practice to implementation typically occurs when sufficient proficiency is achieved, and the focus shifts to applying skills or executing plans.
How do professionals use practice in their work?
Professionals use practice to refine skills, keep up with industry standards, and prepare for challenges in their fields.
What role does technology play in implementation?
Technology can facilitate implementation by providing tools and platforms that streamline processes and enhance effectiveness.
How do individuals tailor practice to their needs?
Individuals tailor practice by setting personal goals, adjusting routines, and focusing on areas requiring improvement.
Can practice be harmful if done incorrectly?
Incorrect practice methods can lead to ingrained mistakes, inefficiency, or even physical harm in activities like sports.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
