accustomed

adjective

ac·​cus·​tomed ə-ˈkə-stəmd How to pronounce accustomed (audio)
1
: often used or practiced : customary
her accustomed cheerfulness
2
: adapted to existing conditions
eyes accustomed to the dark
3
: being in the habit or custom
a team accustomed to winning
accustomedness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for accustomed

usual, customary, habitual, wonted, accustomed mean familiar through frequent or regular repetition.

usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

Examples of accustomed in a Sentence

She arrived early enough to get her accustomed seat in the front row. Josh felt uncomfortably full, as he was not accustomed to eating so much.
Recent Examples on the Web From the standpoint of viewers, who have become more and more accustomed to watching movies at home and/or online, this San Diego Indie Film Network channel may meet that demand. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 Second, users are well accustomed to scanning QR codes. Jonathan Fischbein, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Karie Davies, who added that geese are common in the area and have become accustomed to being around people. Mona Darwish, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Two years into the Ukraine war — the second anniversary of the Russian invasion is this Saturday — the world has become accustomed to, some would say numbed to, an endless stream of similar scenes of destruction coming out of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Donetsk. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Feb. 2024 This occurs when one's body becomes accustomed to caffeine and then doesn't get it for an extended period of time such as a full night's sleep. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 Soccer fans have become accustomed to Haaland, arguably the best goal-scorer in the world, converting almost all of his chances in recent seasons, but the 23-year-old seemed to struggle in his latest English Premier League performance. Ben Church, CNN, 18 Feb. 2024 Parks and cruises see uptick in prices Perks that Disney customers had grown accustomed to have also started to disappear. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024 Cavan Biggio and Davis Schneider can both play the position, but are more accustomed to second base. Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accustomed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acustumed "customary, used (to)," from past participle of acustomen "to accustom"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of accustomed was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near accustomed

Cite this Entry

“Accustomed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accustomed. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

accustomed

adjective
ac·​cus·​tomed ə-ˈkəs-təmd How to pronounce accustomed (audio)
1
: customary
my accustomed lunch hour
2
: familiar with
3
: being in the habit or custom
accustomed to making decisions

More from Merriam-Webster on accustomed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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