accustomed

1 of 2

adjective

ac·​cus·​tomed ə-ˈkə-stəmd How to pronounce accustomed (audio)
Synonyms of accustomed
1
: often used or practiced : customary
her accustomed cheerfulness
2
: adapted to existing conditions
eyes accustomed to the dark
3
: being in the habit or custom
a team accustomed to winning
accustomedness
ə-ˈkə-stəm(d)-nəs How to pronounce accustomed (audio)
noun

accustomed

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of accustom

Synonyms of accustomed

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for accustomed

usual, customary, habitual, wonted, accustomed mean familiar through frequent or regular repetition.

usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

Examples of accustomed in a Sentence

Adjective She arrived early enough to get her accustomed seat in the front row. Josh felt uncomfortably full, as he was not accustomed to eating so much.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
The flooding in Nepal is yet another calamity for a country grimly accustomed to crisis and upheaval. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 Collectors have become accustomed to shuttling between events and openings spread across the capital. — Payal Uttam, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Amid cultural and social upheaval in America, Parton grew accustomed to coming under fire. — Shima Oliaee, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 Burning Man participants are already accustomed to dust storms and poor visibility on the playa. — James Ward, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for accustomed

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English acustumed "customary, used (to)," from past participle of acustomen "to accustom"

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of accustomed was in the 15th century

Rhymes for accustomed

See All Rhymes for accustomed

Browse Nearby Words

accustomary
accustomed
accustomedness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Accustomed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accustomed. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

accustomed

adjective
ac·​cus·​tomed ə-ˈkəs-təmd How to pronounce accustomed (audio)
1
: customary
my accustomed lunch hour
2
: familiar with
3
: being in the habit or custom
accustomed to making decisions
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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