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.
Fellow senators have grown accustomed to the Utah Republican’s pugnacious online persona, mostly brushing it off in the name of collegiality. Joey Cappelletti, Twin Cities, 21 June 2025 Everton fans have grown accustomed to scanning the fixture list for those final fixtures, looking for a winnable game in case the battle for survival goes to the wire. Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 18 June 2025 Rather than diminishing their stature, the loss offered valuable lessons, particularly for a squad that has become accustomed to continental pressure. Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 Rodgers also plans on participating in minicamp to get accustomed to his new teammates and coaches before preparing on his own for the rest of the summer, the report added. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Accustomed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accustomed. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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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