distributed practice: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic
Quick answer
What does “distributed practice” mean?
A learning technique involving spacing study sessions over time, rather than massing them together.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A learning technique involving spacing study sessions over time, rather than massing them together.
A principle from cognitive psychology and education, also known as the spacing effect, where information is better retained and learned when practice is broken into multiple, shorter sessions spaced out over longer intervals. Contrasted with massed practice (cramming).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences. Both use the same term. Spelling follows local conventions for 'practice' (UK often distinguishes 'practice' (n.) vs. 'practise' (v.), but this is a fixed compound).
Connotations
None specific.
Frequency
Equally used in educational psychology contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “distributed practice” in a Sentence
Distributed practice of [skill/topic]Distributed practice over [time period]Distributed practice leads to/is associated with [outcome]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “distributed practice” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The teacher advised the pupils to practise the spellings in a distributed manner over the fortnight.
American English
- She distributed her study sessions over three weeks.
adverb
British English
- He studied distributedly, revisiting the material every few days.
American English
- She preferred to study distributedly rather than in one long block.
adjective
British English
- A distributed practice schedule is more effective than a last-minute one.
American English
- The distributed practice approach yielded better test results.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in corporate training contexts: 'We use distributed practice in our onboarding modules.'
Academic
Primary context: 'The experiment confirmed the superiority of distributed practice for long-term retention.'
Everyday
Limited to advice-giving: 'For your driving test, try distributed practice instead of cramming all your lessons.'
Technical
Core context in educational psychology, cognitive science, and sports science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “distributed practice”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “distributed practice”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “distributed practice”
- Using 'distributed' to mean 'given out' (e.g., distributed papers) in this phrase. Incorrect part of speech: using it as a verb (e.g., 'He distributed practiced'). Confusing with 'deliberate practice' (which is about focused effort, not timing).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related. Distributed practice is the broader principle of spacing study over time. Spaced repetition is a specific technique, often aided by software, that systematically schedules reviews based on performance.
There's no single rule; it depends on the material and the desired retention period. Generally, gaps should be a meaningful proportion of the retention interval (e.g., revisiting material after a day, then a week, then a month).
Yes, it's effective for both cognitive learning (like facts) and motor skills (like playing an instrument or a sport), where it's sometimes called 'spaced practice'.
Cognitive theories suggest spacing allows for memory consolidation, prevents fatigue, and requires retrieval effort each session, which strengthens memory traces. Massed practice leads to quick short-term gains that fade rapidly.
A learning technique involving spacing study sessions over time, rather than massing them together.
Distributed practice is usually formal, academic in register.
Distributed practice: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪd ˈpræktɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈstrɪbjətəd ˈpræktɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[To] space it out”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of watering a plant: a little water regularly (distributed) makes it grow strong; a huge flood once (massed) can drown it. Study is the same.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEARNING IS NOURISHMENT/PLANT GROWTH (requires regular, spaced intervals).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary benefit of distributed practice?