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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Read Next: What Do Black Bears Eat? Black bears can quickly grow accustomed to a recurring food source in a particular area. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024 Consumers have become accustomed to fast transactional environments, and businesses must align with this expectation. Naveen Singh, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 No veteran worth his salt — particularly ones who’ve grown accustomed to the playoffs or lifted a Stanley Cup or two — wants to be part of a laughingstock. Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2024 In fact, so many moms were expecting that the kids became accustomed to pregnant bellies. Jessica Schneider, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for accustomed 

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 22 Nov. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!