practical

Useful in real life, sensible, and easy enough to do or use.

• These shoes are practical.
• We need a practical solution to this problem.
• Is your plan practical with such a small budget?

How to use it: practical for something (These shoes are practical for everyday use.)

Similar words: sensible, workable, useful

Opposites: impractical

Common phrases: practical solution, practical advice, practical shoes, practical use

Based on doing things or using real experience, rather than only studying ideas.

• The course includes practical training.
• She has practical experience of caring for children.
• We learned the theory before taking a practical lesson.

Similar words: hands-on, applied

Opposites: theoretical

Common phrases: practical experience, practical training, practical skills

Good at doing useful everyday tasks and making sensible decisions.

• My brother is very practical.
• She is practical and can fix most things herself.
• We need someone practical to organize the move.

Similar words: capable, handy, sensible

Opposites: impractical

Common phrases: practical person, practical mind, practical someone

Describing lights that appear in a film scene as part of the setting and also provide light.

• The scene uses practical lighting.
• A practical lamp on the desk lights her face.
• The crew adjusted the practical lights before filming.

Common phrases: practical lighting, practical lamp, practical lights