Exercise vs. Training — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Published on October 1, 2023
Exercise is physical or mental activity aimed at maintaining general well-being. Training is a structured program to improve specific skills or achieve specific goals.
Difference Between Exercise and Training
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Exercise refers to general physical or mental activities designed to improve health, enhance well-being, or maintain physical fitness. Training, on the other hand, refers to a systematic and often professional or vocational program intended to improve specific skills or achieve specific outcomes. Exercise can be spontaneous and varied, while training typically involves a structured and planned regimen.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Exercise generally focuses on the immediate benefits, such as stress relief or improved mood. Training, conversely, is often future-oriented, aiming for long-term benefits or specific milestones. In essence, all training involves exercise, but not all exercise is part of training.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Exercise often doesn't require specialized skills and is commonly done to improve overall health. Training usually demands a targeted approach, often with the help of a coach or mentor, to enhance certain skills or abilities. Exercise can be as simple as a daily walk or a casual swim, while training might involve a dedicated plan to improve your marathon time or gain proficiency in a certain career path.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Exercise can be a subset of training but doesn't have to be. For example, you might exercise by doing squats, but if you are training for a weightlifting competition, those squats would be part of a much broader, targeted program. Training tends to involve benchmarks and evaluations to measure progress toward specific goals, while exercise is more self-contained and doesn't necessarily aim for such specific outcomes.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Comparison Chart
ADVERTISEMENT
Definitions
Exercise
Physical activity to maintain health
I do exercise every morning to keep fit.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Training
A program to improve specific skills
I'm in training for a marathon.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Mental activity to stimulate the mind
Sudoku is a good exercise for the brain.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Military maneuvers or drills
The army conducted an exercise in the desert.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Training
Systematic physical conditioning
His training involves cardio and strength exercises.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Use of a legal power or right
The exercise of free speech is crucial.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Training
Preparing for a particular job or task
She's in training to become a nurse.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
A specific task or problem for practice
The math exercise was difficult.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Activity that requires physical or mental exertion, especially when performed to develop or maintain fitness
Walks every day for exercise.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
A specific activity performed to develop or maintain fitness or a skill
Sit-ups and other exercises.
A piano exercise.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
The active use or application of something
The exercise of good judgment.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
An activity having a specified aspect
An undertaking that was an exercise in futility.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Exercises A ceremony that includes speeches, presentations, and other activities
Graduation exercises.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Training
(computing) The process by which two modems determine which protocol and speed to use; handshaking.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
To subject to practice or exertion in order to train, strengthen, or develop
Exercise the back muscles.
Exercise the memory.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Training
(voice recognition) The recording of multiple samples of a user's voice to aid pattern recognition.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Training
The act of one who trains; the act or process of exercising, disciplining, etc.; education.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
To make active use of; employ, apply, or exert
Exercise restraint.
Exercise control.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Training
The result of good upbringing (especially knowledge of correct social behavior);
A woman of breeding and refinement
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
To alarm, worry, or anger; upset
An injustice that exercised the whole community.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
(countable) Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.
The teacher told us that the next exercise is to write an essay.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
Swimming is good exercise.
I like to do my exercises every morning before breakfast.
I do crosswords for mental exercise.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
A setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use.
The law guarantees us the free exercise of our rights.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
The performance of an office, ceremony, or duty.
I assisted the ailing vicar in the exercise of his parish duties.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop.
To exercise troops or horses;
To exercise one's brain with a puzzle
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
(intransitive) To perform physical activity for health or training.
I exercise at the gym every day.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
(transitive) To use (a right, an option, etc.); to put into practice.
The tenant exercised his option to renew the tenancy.
She is going to exercise her right to vote.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious.
Exercised with pain
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
(obsolete) To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
The act of exercising; a setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use; habitual activity; occupation, in general; practice.
Exercise of the important function confided by the constitution to the legislature.
O we will walk this world,Yoked in all exercise of noble end.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Exertion for the sake of training or improvement whether physical, intellectual, or moral; practice to acquire skill, knowledge, virtue, perfectness, grace, etc.
An exercise of the eyes and memory.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Bodily exertion for the sake of keeping the organs and functions in a healthy state; hygienic activity; as, to take exercise on horseback; to exercise on a treadmill or in a gym.
The wise for cure on exercise depend.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
The performance of an office, a ceremony, or a religious duty.
Lewis refused even those of the church of England . . . the public exercise of their religion.
To draw him from his holy exercise.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
That which is done for the sake of exercising, practicing, training, or promoting skill, health, mental, improvement, moral discipline, etc.; that which is assigned or prescribed for such ends; hence, a disquisition; a lesson; a task; as, military or naval exercises; musical exercises; an exercise in composition; arithmetic exercises.
The clumsy exercises of the European tourney.
He seems to have taken a degree, and performed public exercises in Cambridge, in 1565.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
That which gives practice; a trial; a test.
Patience is more oft the exerciseOf saints, the trial of their fortitude.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to; to put in action habitually or constantly; to school or train; to exert repeatedly; to busy.
Herein do I Exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop; hence, also, to improve by practice; to discipline, and to use or to for the purpose of training; as, to exercise arms; to exercise one's self in music; to exercise troops.
About him exercised heroic gamesThe unarmed youth.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious; to affect; to discipline; as, exercised with pain.
Where pain of unextinguishable fireMust exercise us without hope of end.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
To put in practice; to carry out in action; to perform the duties of; to use; to employ; to practice; as, to exercise authority; to exercise an office.
I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
To exercise one's self, as under military training; to drill; to take exercise; to use action or exertion; to practice gymnastics; as, to exercise for health or amusement.
I wear my trusty sword,When I do exercise.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
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
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
The act of using;
He warned against the use of narcotic drugs
Skilled in the utilization of computers
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Systematic training by multiple repetitions;
Practice makes perfect
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
A task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding;
You must work the examples at the end of each chapter in the textbook
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
(usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches;
Academic exercises
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Give a work-out to;
Some parents exercise their infants
My personal trainer works me hard
Work one's muscles
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
Exercise
Learn by repetition;
We drilled French verbs every day
Pianists practice scales
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 14, 2023
FAQs
What is Exercise?
Exercise is activity for enhancing physical or mental well-being.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
What is Training?
Training is a planned program to achieve specific skills or goals.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Is Exercise the same as Training?
No, exercise is for general well-being, while training targets specific outcomes.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Can Exercise be part of Training?
Yes, exercise can be a component of a broader training program.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Do I need special skills for Exercise?
Usually no, exercise often requires no specialized skills.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Do I need special skills for Training?
Often yes, training may require specialized skills or a mentor.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Can I do Exercise without a plan?
Yes, exercise can be spontaneous and varied.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Is Training short-term or long-term?
Training is usually aimed at long-term goals.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Is Exercise always physical?
No, exercise can also be mental, like brain teasers.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
How is progress measured in Exercise?
Typically, progress in exercise is not formally measured.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Is Training always physical?
No, training can also be mental or vocational.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Is Exercise short-term or long-term?
Exercise is generally for immediate benefits.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Can I do Training without a plan?
No, training usually involves a structured plan.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
How is progress measured in Training?
Progress in training is often evaluated through benchmarks.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Who usually conducts Training?
Training is often conducted by professionals or mentors.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 01, 2023
Author Spotlight
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 editor 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.