routine

noun

rou·tine | \rü-ˈtēn

Definition of routine

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a regular course of procedure if resort to legal action becomes a campus routine— J. A. Perkins

b : habitual or mechanical performance of an established procedure the routine of factory work

2 : a reiterated speech or formula the old "After you" routine— Ray Russell

3 : a worked-out part (as of an entertainment or sports contest) that may be often repeated a dance routine especially : a theatrical number

4 : a sequence of computer instructions for performing a particular task

routine

adjective

rou·tine | \rü-ˈtēn,

ˈrü-ˌtēn\

Definition of routine (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : of a commonplace or repetitious character : ordinary routine problems

2 : of, relating to, or being in accordance with established procedure routine business

Other Words from routine Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about routine

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Examples of routine in a Sentence

Noun

Grandma gets upset if we change her routine. A brisk walk is part of her morning routine. The job will be easier once you settle into a routine. the boring routine of paperwork

Adjective

The surgery has become a very routine operation and poses little danger. He criticized her routine absence from important meetings. The more you do it, the more routine it becomes. They hire high-school students for routine work such as filing. Data entry becomes routine very quickly.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Weakness and tightness, thankfully, can be addressed with the right strengthening and stretching routine. — SELF, "How to Know When It’s Safe to Run Through Knee Pain and When You Need to Stop," 7 Dec. 2018 Even Lana Condor found a look to love and arrived at the Teen Vogue Summit with a an all-pink eyeshadow routine created by MUA Anton Khachaturian and the New Nude palette. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "What Huda Beauty's The New Nude Eyeshadow Palette Looks Like on 24 Different Skin Tones," 6 Dec. 2018 Some had come prepared with elaborate celebratory handshake routines. — Loren Grush, The Verge, "Hanging out at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory," 27 Nov. 2018 Drum and bugle corps perform intricate routines that incorporate music, marching, dance and color guards. — Michael Rubinkam, The Seattle Times, "Renowned former drum corps leader charged with sex assault," 13 Nov. 2018 On Thursday, November 8, Jupiter — the planet of fortune and expansion — cruises into Sagittarius, activating the area of your chart associated with health, wellness, structure, and routines. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "What November's Cancer Horoscope Means for You," 28 Oct. 2018 But the people who have made careers out of those routines and who have come to power through them don’t want to deal with that. — Ezra Klein, Vox, "Is the media making American politics worse?," 22 Oct. 2018 The supermodel also has a killer travel routine for keeping her skin fresh. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "Bella Hadid Just Revealed The One Secret To Her Glowy Skin," 18 Oct. 2018 Please consult your doctor before integrating essential oils into your home or self-care routine. — Alyssa Nassner, Curbed, "Cleansing 101: Keeping your home’s energy in check," 17 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished from radar not long after embarking on a routine journey to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, has proven one of the most confounding mysteries in the history of aviation. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "New Research Might Locate Flight MH370—And Solve One of the Greatest Aviation Mysteries of All Time," 7 Dec. 2018 In on a Nighttime Routine Every night before bed, Marchbein recommends sticking to a routine that will ensure healthy skin come morning. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "The Definitive Guide to Preventing Dry Skin—From a Top Dermatologist," 26 Oct. 2018 Consider their advice a jumping off point to finding a routine that works for you. — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, "14 Glamour Editors on the Skin Care Tips That Changed Their Complexions," 9 Oct. 2018 Airport critics say the $24 billion program has a serious failing—no new runways to ease the severe but routine delays, and not much capacity to grow. — Scott Mccartney, WSJ, "New York’s Three Airports: Bottom of the Heap," 14 Nov. 2018 HANDS Hopkins has developed a knack for making one-handed catches look routine. — Kristie Rieken, The Seattle Times, "Miller’s big game helps Texans beat Dolphins 42-23," 26 Oct. 2018 Then get into a routine by eating fish (or shellfish such as shrimp) every Monday. — Woman's Day, "Everything You Need to Know About Picking Out and Preparing Fish," 19 Sep. 2018 But just as work to exhume and identify bodies continues slowly, so does a partial return to the routine for residents of Raqqa, where 300,000 lived before the Syrian conflict began. — Raja Abdulrahim, WSJ, "To Rebuild a Syrian City, Men First Dig Up and Rebury the Dead," 26 Oct. 2018 Watch the rest of Perkins' routine—as well as the routine of a surprise guest at the end—in the video above. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "Desi Perkins Shares Her Nighttime Skincare Routine," 25 Sep. 2018

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