Exercise means physical activity that makes your body work harder than usual, like running, swimming, or doing push-ups. When you exercise, your heart beats faster, you breathe harder, and your muscles work to move your body. Regular exercise makes you stronger, gives you more energy, and helps you stay healthy.

The word also means practicing a skill to get better at it. You might do math exercises to improve at multiplication, or piano exercises to train your fingers. These mental or skill-building exercises work the same way as physical ones: they challenge you to grow stronger through practice.

Exercise can also mean using or applying something you have. A citizen might exercise their right to vote. A judge exercises authority when making decisions in court. When you exercise caution crossing a busy street, you're actively using your good judgment.

In all these meanings, there's a common thread: exercise involves actively doing something rather than sitting passively. Whether you're exercising your body, your mind, or your rights, you're putting something into action and often making it stronger through use.