accustom

verb

ac·​cus·​tom ə-ˈkə-stəm 

accustomed; accustoming; accustoms

transitive verb

: to make familiar with something through use or experience

accustomation

ə-ˌkə-stə-ˈmā-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• acquaint
• familiarize
• initiate
• introduce
• orient
• orientate

Examples of accustom in a Sentence

the task of accustoming new recruits to shipboard life

Recent Examples on the Web

Individual European nations are also accustomed to keeping their national hands on them. —Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 21 Apr. 2025

Church volunteers, who were accustomed to helping furnish and decorate apartments for new arrivals, now had to help prevent evictions. —Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2025

Smart, accustomed to playoff basketball, having reached the postseason in each of his nine years with the Boston Celtics, suddenly found himself on the Washington Wizards. —Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025

But nine months in the DRC taught me that the standard of health we are accustomed to, is precarious and built on the basics—vaccination, clean water, basic medicines, good education, surveillance systems—much more than cutting-edge surgery and expensive new medications. —David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acustomen "to habituate (reflexive or intransitive)," borrowed from Anglo-French acustumer, acostumer, from a-, prefix forming transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + -customer, costomer, verbal derivative of custume custom entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing accustom

• accustom oneself to

Rhymes for accustom

• custom
• frustum

Kids Definition

accustom

verb

ac·​cus·​tom ə-ˈkəs-təm 

: to make familiar