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
Pisces February 19 – March 20 A smarter routine can make your whole day better. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026 Experts recommend changing watering, fertilizing, mowing, and aeration routines. — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Adjective
In July, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that all men in military service who are 30 and older would receive routine testosterone screening as part of their annual physical exam. — Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026 Herrera plays a federal police officer and Hernández his volatile partner who make a routine stop that inadvertently puts them face to face with the notorious El Chapo himself. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 13 Aug. 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
  • An espresso machine calls for an extra-fine grind, while a French press or percolator requires a coarse grind.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Related Stories There’s often plenty of chatter about whether the younger generation of pop stars has the appetite for the traditional grind of superstardom.
    — Emanuel Okusanya, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of grind
Noun
  • Options are available for men and women, including insoles designed for casual comfort, exercise and more.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Other participants also tested UUV detection and counter-UUV technologies during the exercise.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of exercise
Noun
  • Player development is not an exact science and bringing him along at the right speed will be a delicate balancing act for Alonso, amplified by the pressure to keep piling up Premier League points.
    — Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The reissue includes more than half a dozen additional smashes from the Grammy-winning act, and fans of the group and those tunes in particular have turned the collection into not only a bestseller, but a top 10 success for the very first time.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of act
Adjective
  • Villa go in as considerable underdogs — 7/2 to win in normal time and 2/1 to lift the trophy — and pulling it off would represent another big result in what has already been a landmark year for the club.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • While Social Security is facing long-term financial challenges, including projections that the retirement trust fund could face a shortfall as soon as 2032, beneficiaries can still expect payments to follow the agency's normal schedule this month.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Diplomatic efforts today too often grant the Taliban a formal place at the table while limiting contact with Afghan women to informal consultations.
    — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Between now and then, there is much parsing of the 16-track album’s rich content to be done, with millions of words of formal and informal think-pieces to come.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Its separate entrance, elevators, and staff have always set it apart from the surrounding casino ecosystem, offering a smoke-free, gaming-free environment with all the brand’s usual service signatures.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • For example, someone who is comfortable walking for 30 minutes could walk at their usual pace for several minutes, then pick it up for a minute or two before slowing down again.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of usual
Noun
  • Visitors can drive Trail Ridge Road, hike among colorful forests and witness the annual elk rut, one of autumn's signature wildlife experiences.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski remained in a rut, giving up four runs (three earned) in 3⅓ innings.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of rut
Noun
  • Some of the loudest opposing voices are creatives, who see the products being created by AI companies as something threatening to their own practice and to the world at-large.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The Eagles prioritize health (and keeping their scheme close to the vest) in games and have placed a greater emphasis on joint practices.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of practice

Browse Nearby Words

routeways
routine
routinely
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Routine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routine. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on routine

Nglish: Translation of routine for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All