routines

noun

plural of routine
1
as in ruts
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 exercises
something done over and over in order to develop skill a weapons training routine

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in acts
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

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 routines Hyperice and Nike worked with Dutch soccer star Virgil van Dijk and American track athlete Tara Woodhall on the project because their recovery routines fit the Hyperslide ethos. — Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 That means spicules won’t be sold as a standalone hack for long — they’ll be positioned inside routines that also repair the environment the skin needs to function. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026 Household habits that waste water range from simple things built into your daily routines to home flaws that need repair. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 27 July 2026 Saturn stations retrograde in your 6th House of Work and Health, asking you to review routines, obligations, handoffs, and the habits that turn effort into either stability or depletion. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 For years, tech companies tracked our lives via search trends, shopping habits, locations, and fitness routines online. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 26 July 2026 Haridopolos encouraged families to build regular screen-free periods into their daily routines, including during meals, car rides and before bedtime. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026 Saturn stationing retrograde today asks you to review your routines and duties. — Usa Today, USA Today, 26 July 2026 The timing couldn’t be better for beauty enthusiasts looking to refresh their routines. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 20 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routines
  1. ruts
  2. exercises
  3. acts
  4. patterns
  5. practices
  6. habits
  7. grinds
  8. grooves
Noun
  • Neptune retrograde in Aries commences on this day, urging us to break out of our emotional and professional ruts and to reignite our dreams.
    — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
  • Wet soil is also prone to compaction from the weight of the mower, which may leave ruts in the yard.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
Definition of ruts
Noun
  • The exercises are designed to help Davis’ first responders improve coordination and cooperation during critical incidents.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
  • Rogers previously served in a space aggressors unit in the US Air Force, taking up against US space operators in war game and military exercises.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026
Definition of exercises
Noun
  • In a screenplay structured in three acts, that’s the point at which everything falls apart.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
  • The 14th Amendment’s foundational principles include birthright citizenship, due process, equal protection under the law, and the prohibition for heads of state to engage in acts of insurrection.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 July 2026
Definition of acts
Noun
  • Leaked reports suggest a release date of September 25, 2026, with early access on September 18 for Ultimate Edition and EA Play subscribers, aligning with past franchise patterns.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Uranus is the planet of disruption, innovation, liberation and the sudden developments that interrupt familiar patterns.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Definition of patterns
Noun
  • Some of the crowd’s energy Friday may have been due to the fact that training camp practices are closed this summer because of construction at the team’s practice facility in uptown Charlotte.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • First Fridays may bring a night market; meditation and healing circles happen in a back room, with Indigenous practices led by Indigenous people.
    — Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of practices
Noun
  • Bieniemy was brought back specifically to establish an everyday expectation with the Chiefs — to re-establish habits that have slipped through the cracks on offense over the past couple of years.
    — Sam McDowell Updated July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • Before moving in, talk about money The Gottman Institute recommends that couples talk openly about income, debt and spending habits before combining households.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of habits
Noun
  • Tableside dishes are a highlight, including a seasonal classic Greek salad and mouthwatering whole branzino baked in a coffee-grinds and sea-salt crust, then expertly deboned and served to perfection.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
  • In a measuring cup or small bowl, stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise, chives, dill and garlic powder; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper.
    — Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Definition of grinds
Noun
  • On his first appearance for Peak Oil, the Mancunian producer animates foreboding, percussive bass music with tricky details and Escherian grooves.
    — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
  • Bacteria can hide in these small components, ridges, and grooves.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 25 July 2026
Definition of grooves

Browse Nearby Words

routinely
routines
routing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Routines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routines. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on routines

Nglish: Translation of routines 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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
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
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All