regular

adjective reg·u·lar \ ˈre-gyə-lər , ˈre-g(ə-)lər also ˈrā- \

Definition of regular

1 :belonging to a religious order

2 a :formed, built, arranged, or ordered according to some established rule, law, principle, or type

b (1) :both equilateral and equiangular

a regular polygon

(2) :having faces that are congruent regular polygons and all the polyhedral angles congruent

a regular polyhedron

c of a flower :having the arrangement of floral parts exhibiting radial symmetry with members of the same whorl similar in form

3 a :orderly, methodical

regular habits

b :recurring, attending, or functioning at fixed, uniform, or normal intervals

a regular income

a regular churchgoer

regular bowel movements

4 a :constituted, conducted, scheduled, or done in conformity with established or prescribed usages, rules, or discipline

b :normal, standard: such as

(1) :absolute, complete

a regular fool

the office seemed like a regular madhouse

(2) :thinking or behaving in an acceptable, normal, or agreeable manner

was a regular guy

c (1) :conforming to the normal or usual manner of inflection

(2) :weak 7

d of a postage stamp :issued in large numbers over a long period for general use in prepayment of postage

5 :of, relating to, or constituting the permanent standing military force of a state

the regular army

regular soldiers

See regular defined for English-language learners

See regular defined for kids

Examples of regular in a Sentence

Most days she follows a regular routine.
The town holds regular meetings.
five regular payments of $100
We made regular use of the pool.
Getting regular exercise is important.
Exercise has become a regular part of my lifestyle.
He is a regular contributor to the magazine.
The seedlings were planted in regular rows.
The wallpaper has a regular pattern of stripes.

Recent Examples of regular from the Web

In China, local tournament Kunlun Fight holds regular bouts and South Korea has Top Fighting Championship.

— yoolim lee, Bloomberg.com, "Ultimate Fighting Championship Has an Asian Rival," 30 Aug. 2017
Both exhibits run through Monday and regular admission rates apply.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "What to do with the kids this weekend: Free zoo, bowling and crafts events," 30 Aug. 2017
Tickets — sold at the event — are $7 for adults and $3 for children, which includes all-you-can-eat regular or blueberry pancakes, sausage, orange juice and coffee.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "Kiwanians to hold 49th annual pancake breakfast on Saturday," 30 Aug. 2017
Last year, OCB became the first of Orlando City Soccer Club’s teams to advance to the postseason by closing out a must-win game against Bethlehem Steel in the final match of the regular season.

— alicia delgallo, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orlando City B succeeds despite lack of roster stability," 30 Aug. 2017
The clip, directed by Richie Smyth, was filmed before a live audience on July 28 in Amsterdam before the group’s regular two nights on the 29th and 30th.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "U2 teases new album with ‘The Blackout’ video clip," 30 Aug. 2017
Get regular updates from NYT Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice.

— pete wells, New York Times, "A Wish List for New Restaurants," 29 Aug. 2017
Klein’s was selling gas at $2.29 per gallon for regular on Monday, up from $2.16 per gallon a couple days earlier.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Donation drive planned in Bel Air Wednesday to aid Harvey victims," 29 Aug. 2017
Meanwhile, board member Charlene Tabet suggested a monthly joint committee to hear regular updates.

— priscella vega, Burbank Leader, "Amid budget hurdles, Burbank school officials brainstorm topics to discuss with City Council," 29 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'regular.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of regular

Middle English reguler, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin regularis regular, from Latin, of a bar, from regula rule — more at rule

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

regular Synonyms

Synonyms

constant, frequent, habitual, periodic, periodical, repeated, steady

Antonyms

inconstant, infrequent, irregular

Related Words

continual, intermittent, recurrent, recurring; cyclic (or cyclical); around-the-clock, hourly, round-the-clock, 24-7 (or 24/7); chronic, confirmed, inveterate; expected, usual

Near Antonyms

episodic (also episodical), occasional; unexpected, unusual

Synonym Discussion of regular

regular, normal, typical, natural mean being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average. regular stresses conformity to a rule, standard, or pattern.

- the club's regular monthly meeting

normal implies lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as the most usual or expected.

- normal behavior for a two-year-old

typical implies showing all important traits of a type, class, or group and may suggest lack of strong individuality.

- a typical small town

natural applies to what conforms to a thing's essential nature, function, or mode of being.

- the natural love of a mother for her child

regular

noun

Definition of regular

1 :one who is regular: such as

a :one of the regular clergy

b :a soldier in a regular army

c :one who can be trusted or depended on

a party regular

d :a player on an athletic team who usually starts every game

e :one who is usually present or participating; especially :a long-standing regular customer

2 :something of average or medium size; especially :a clothing size designed to fit a person of average height

See regular defined for English-language learners

Examples of regular in a Sentence

They are regulars at the bar.
He is a regular on the television show.
the regulars on a baseball team
“What kind of gas do you put in your car?” “I use regular.”
We'll have one large soda and two regulars.

Recent Examples of regular from the Web

Coaches will adjust to make sure both regulars and those trying to make the team get their playing time.

— profootballdoc, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Easy schedule fix increases revenue, safety, fan enjoyment," 15 Aug. 2017
Fashion regulars including Alexa Chung and Catherine Deneuve star in spreads for AG and Louis Vuitton, while fresh faces Taylor Hill and Emily Ratajkowski share the spotlight with adds for MICHAEL Michael Kors, Versace and DKNY.

— kelsi trinidad, The Cut, "Updated: See the Newest Fashion Campaigns for Fall 2017," 11 Aug. 2017
The Hall of Fame game didn’t feature many regulars for the Arizona Cardinals or Dallas Cowboys.

— drew davison, star-telegram, "Lee Greenwood, Jackie Smith highlight HOF festivities," 3 Aug. 2017
A lot of the question, of course, had to deal with various characters that have appeared on the show over the years but are no longer series regulars.

— gabe bergado, Teen Vogue, ""Teen Wolf" Creator Jeff Davis Revealed Details About the Show's Final Episodes," 1 Aug. 2017
A couple of old guys, the last of the die-hard regulars, are talking about hunting.

— jeremiah moss, Longreads, "Mourning the Low-Rent, Weirdo-Filled East Village of Old," 24 July 2017
Some 80 percent of their clients are regulars, many coming in several times a week.

— dana mcmahan, The Courier-Journal, "Longtime J. Harrod's employees buy Prospect mainstay," 18 July 2017
Mount Carmel (5-8-1) dressed only 10 players, with many regulars not available due to playing for their travel teams.

— pat disabato, Daily Southtown, "St. Rita shows off Logan Strutz to overpower Mount Carmel in summer playoffs," 13 July 2017
Some cities and villages are regulars; the Tour finishes in Paris every year, and Pau, strategically located in the Pyrenees, and Alpe d’Huez, an iconic climb, are mainstays.

— andrew keh, New York Times, "When the Tour de France Comes to Town," 6 July 2017

First Known Use of regular

15th century

regular Synonyms

Synonyms

dogface, fighter, legionary, legionnaire, man-at-arms, soldier, serviceman, trooper, warrior

Antonyms

civilian

Related Words

servicewoman; carabineer (or carabinier), cavalier, cavalryman, cuirassier, dragoon; doughboy, footman, foot soldier, grunt, infantryman; commando, raider; jarhead [slang], marine, ranger; artilleryman, cannoneer, gunner, mortarman, musketeer, rifleman; archer, crossbowman; lancer, pikeman, spearman; Confederate, Continental, Federal, GI, guardsman, militiaman, minuteman; counterguerrilla (also counterguerilla), guerrilla (or guerilla), irregular, paramilitary, partisan (also partizan); combatant, noncombatant; lifer, veteran, warhorse; conscript, draftee, enrollee, recruit; reservist; champion, knight; digger [chiefly Australian & New Zealand], gallowglass, gendarme

REGULAR Defined for English Language Learners

regular

adjective

Definition of regular for English Language Learners

: happening over and over again at the same time or in the same way : occurring every day, week, month, etc.
: happening at times that are equally separated
: happening or done very often

regular

noun

Definition of regular for English Language Learners

: someone who goes somewhere very often
: someone who often or usually performs, plays, etc.
: something that is average or usual in quality or size

REGULAR Defined for Kids

regular

adjective reg·u·lar \ ˈre-gyə-lər \

Definition of regular for Students

1 :steady in practice or occurrence :happening on or as if on a schedule

a regular routine

The club holds regular meetings.

2 :following established usages or rules

regular procedures

3 :¹normal 1

Practice will be at the regular time.

The regular price is $15.

4 :following the usual manner of inflection

“Talk” is a regular verb, but “say” is not.

5 :having all sides equal and all angles equal

a regular polygon

—

regularly

adverb

Synonym Discussion of regular

regular, normal, and typical mean being of the sort that is considered to be usual, ordinary, or average. regular is used of something that follows a rule, standard, or pattern.