accustomed

adjective

ac·​cus·​tomed ə-ˈkə-stəmd 

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 

noun

Synonyms

• given
• habituated
• used
• wont

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

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

Shoulder Bags The men’s handbag category has been booming over the last few years as male shoppers have become more accustomed to accessorizing their everyday looks. —Layla Ilchi, WWD, 31 Jan. 2025

Policymakers can endlessly debate giving or not giving the public certain benefits and services, but once people have become accustomed to a cheaper and easier way of doing things, trying to wrest that away tends to have immediate blowback, which at least some of the detractors seem to understand. —New York Daily News, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2025

In a locale much more accustomed to hurricane alerts, Tuesday’s snow warnings are an exceedingly rare sight. —Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025

By Aatish Bhatia, Josh Katz and John Keefe The unusually cold weather is extending into regions less accustomed to harsh winter conditions, including the Gulf Coast and northern Florida. —Nazaneen Ghaffar, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

accustomed

adjective

ac·​cus·​tomed ə-ˈkəs-təmd 

1

: customary

my accustomed lunch hour

2

: familiar with

3

: being in the habit or custom

accustomed to making decisions