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 Crypto investors have grown accustomed to wild, daily swings of hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars. David Gura, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 Kashira Al-Sabir, a human resources assistant who was watching the Super Bowl at the Mexican restaurant Mission, has grown accustomed to paying $120 a head for brunch. Priya Krishna, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 The new era has incorporated new, polarizing twists and brought back the fan-favorite auction over the past few seasons, and incoming players have become accustomed to expect the unexpected in addition to preparing physically and mentally to outwit, outplay and outlast each other. Brian Anthony Hernandez, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 The siblings grew accustomed to dining with heads of state—photos with Ronald Reagan and Middle Eastern royal families still hang on the walls. Ann Abel, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 The seasoned restaurateur is by now accustomed to these kinds of questions. Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024 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

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 28 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

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