routine 1 of 2

noun

rü-ˈtēn How to pronounce routine (audio)
Definition of routinenext
1
as in grind
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity part of my morning routine is drinking a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in exercise
something done over and over in order to develop skill a weapons training routine

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in act
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group did a tired routine that's been around since the days of vaudeville

Synonyms & Similar Words

routine

2 of 2

adjective

rü-ˈtēn How to pronounce routine (audio)
1
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events this is just a routine inspection

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in formal
following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules the routine procedure for filing a complaint with the board

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in usual
often observed or encountered the movie is a routine thriller that has little to recommend it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of routine
Noun
For Brady, this new protocol stems from his own wellness journey—and giving people the chance to incorporate it into their own routines. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026 Jewell, meanwhile, reflected on her career and the support of Norman Lear, who cast her in The Facts of Life after seeing her stand-up comedy routine. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Like the movie, Stiles and Sosa featured a chair routine sequence, ballet elements and hip-hop. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 The late June routine activity to determine how many calves survived their first month was about to become anything but routine. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for routine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routine
  1. grind
  2. exercise
  3. act
  4. normal
  5. formal
  6. usual
  7. rut
  8. practice
Noun
  • Because of those factors, and perhaps coupled with my love for the game and fervor for the assignment, the daily grind never felt like that at all.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • While voters may like to see a more unified Congress that quickly passes certain bills or agendas, the political grind that slows that process down appears to be good for the market.
    — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of grind
Noun
  • Its use during the exercise simulated an attack against an opposing naval force.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Getting 12 people to agree on a weekend away is an exercise in logistics.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of exercise
Noun
  • People went through the admission and security checkpoints without issues, and the event’s early evening acts enjoyed mostly dry stages with light, intermittent rain.
    — Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
  • To assure further compliance, Section 5 of the act required those states to get approval from the Justice Department or a court before making any changes to their electoral systems.
    — Jeffrey Toobin, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of act
Adjective
  • With stimulus checks gone and student loan payments back, Maggiulli suggests the drop may partly be a return to normal.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In both cases, people with pre-existing hypertension experienced bigger drops in systolic and diastolic pressure than those with normal blood pressure.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • That year, after Israeli officials castigated Qatar for allegedly financing Hamas, the Qataris began demanding formal documentation of an arrangement the two governments had agreed was meant to provide relief to citizens of the beleaguered enclave.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • With some formal firefighter training and background checks, volunteers commit to following fire officials’ orders, helping residents evacuate and putting out spot fires, while leaving the ferocious front-line flames to the professionals.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • The Sagittarius Moon opposes Uranus, making a public responsibility, schedule, or household plan less predictable than usual.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
  • This is Kerry’s usual spiel at the beginning of a season; historically, the bravado lets up over time.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of usual
Noun
  • Hunt the Rut The very best time to hunt from the ground is when the rut is at its peak.
    — Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The housing market has been stuck in a rut this year in large part because of rising mortgage rates, which can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power and prompting many to put off buying a home.
    — Alex Veiga, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of rut
Noun
  • Larsson has missed practice time and the final three preseason games because of his illness, and Smith missed the entire preseason after straining his calf during training camp.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Russia has also publicly acknowledged the drone attack on a refinery and broadcast images on state media, breaking with its usual practice in order to play up the incident.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of practice

Browse Nearby Words

routeways
routine
routinely
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Cite this Entry

“Routine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routine. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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