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TAKE THE QUIZaccustom
verb
ac·cus·tom
ə-ˈkə-stəm 
accustomed; accustoming; accustoms
: to make familiar with something through use or experience
Synonyms
Example Sentences
the task of accustoming new recruits to shipboard life
Recent Examples on the Web
The beginner tips advise readers to increase their activity to better accustom their body to running.
—
Liam Gravvat, USA TODAY, 23 Sep. 2022
Diddy, who shares his twin daughters with Kim Porter, had to quickly accustom to being their main support back in 2018 when Porter died after a bout of lobar pneumonia.
—Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, 16 May 2022
Diddy, who shares his twin daughters with ex-girlfriend Kim Porter, had to quickly accustom to being their main support back in 2018 when Porter died after a bout of lobar pneumonia.
—Hattie Lindert, PEOPLE.com, 11 Apr. 2022
The muggy heat of Texas imitated that of mid-July Tokyo while the congested schedule allowed players to accustom themselves to the exhaustion of a tournament’s quick turnarounds.
—Julia Poe, orlandosentinel.com, 17 June 2021
Then begin to gradually accustom your pet to your absence.
—Kim Campbell Thornton, Star Tribune, 23 Apr. 2021
In order to accustom the public to the new meter, the French government distributed leaflets, posters, and conversion tables.
—National Geographic, 10 Sep. 2020
Parents and caregivers should accustom themselves to always checking vehicles before locking the doors.
—Marc Ramirez, Dallas News, 22 Aug. 2020
When the pup was three weeks old, he was introduced to live fish to accustom him to seals' natural diets.
—Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 July 2020
See More
Liam Gravvat, USA TODAY, 23 Sep. 2022
Diddy, who shares his twin daughters with Kim Porter, had to quickly accustom to being their main support back in 2018 when Porter died after a bout of lobar pneumonia.
—Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, 16 May 2022
Diddy, who shares his twin daughters with ex-girlfriend Kim Porter, had to quickly accustom to being their main support back in 2018 when Porter died after a bout of lobar pneumonia.
—Hattie Lindert, PEOPLE.com, 11 Apr. 2022
The muggy heat of Texas imitated that of mid-July Tokyo while the congested schedule allowed players to accustom themselves to the exhaustion of a tournament’s quick turnarounds.
—Julia Poe, orlandosentinel.com, 17 June 2021
Then begin to gradually accustom your pet to your absence.
—Kim Campbell Thornton, Star Tribune, 23 Apr. 2021
In order to accustom the public to the new meter, the French government distributed leaflets, posters, and conversion tables.
—National Geographic, 10 Sep. 2020
Parents and caregivers should accustom themselves to always checking vehicles before locking the doors.
—Marc Ramirez, Dallas News, 22 Aug. 2020
When the pup was three weeks old, he was introduced to live fish to accustom him to seals' natural diets.
—Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 July 2020
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accustom.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English acustomen "to habituate (reflexive or intransitive)," borrowed from Anglo-French acustumer, acostumer, from a-, prefix forming transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + -customer, costomer, verbal derivative of custume custom entry 1
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of accustom was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing accustom
Dictionary Entries Near accustom
Cite this Entry
“Accustom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accustom. Accessed 27 Jan. 2023.
Kids Definition
accustom
verb
ac·cus·tom
ə-ˈkəs-təm
: to make familiar
More from Merriam-Webster on accustom
Nglish: Translation of accustom for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of accustom for Arabic Speakers
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