connected with real things
1 connected with real situations rather than with ideas or theories:
to have gained practical experience of the work * practical advice / help / support * practical problems / difficulties * There are some obvious practical applications of the research. * In practical terms, it means spending less. * From a practical point of view, it isn't a good place to live.
compareTHEORETICAL
likely to work
2 (of an idea, a method or a course of action) right or sensible; likely to be successful
SYNWORKABLE:
It wouldn't be practical for us to go all that way just for the weekend. * It was difficult to find a practical solution to the problem.
OPPIMPRACTICAL
useful
3 (of things) useful or suitable:
a practical little car, ideal for the city * Cool, loose-fitting clothes are practical in a hot climate.
OPPIMPRACTICAL
sensible
4 (of a person) sensible and realistic:
Let's be practical and work out the cost first.
OPPIMPRACTICAL
good at making things
5 (of a person) good at making or repairing things:
Bob's very practical. He does all the odd jobs around the house.
almost total
6 [onlybeforenoun] almost complete or total
SYNVIRTUAL:
She married a practical stranger. * They're a practical certainty to win the game.
IDIOMS
for (all) practical purposes used when you are stating what the reality of a situation is:
There's still another ten minutes of the game to go, but for practical purposes it's already over.
noun (BrE, informal) a lesson or an exam in science or technology in which students have to do or make things, not just read or write about them:
a biology practical * The second part of the exam is a three-hour practical.
