Accustomed
/əˈkʌstəmd/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Accustomed describes a state where someone is familiar with something because they have experienced it many times before. It means that something feels normal or usual to a person because they have done it or seen it often. This word often shows that a person has adapted to a new habit or environment.
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See It in Action
Familiar with something because of experience or habit
- •She is accustomed to waking up early for work.
- •After living in the city for years, he became accustomed to the noise.
- •They are accustomed to spicy food from their culture.
Comfortable or accepting of a new situation because it is usual now
- •The new employee quickly became accustomed to the office routine.
- •I am not accustomed to cold weather, so winter feels difficult for me.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "accustomed" like "used to" (A1 phrase), but as an adjective describing a person’s feeling about something
- ✓Picture waking up early every day until it feels normal and easy, no longer hard to do
- ✓It's the calm feeling you get when you no longer notice small problems because they happen all the time
- ✓Sounds like "a-CUSTOMED" → imagine someone following a "custom" (habit or tradition) so much it feels natural
- ✓Think of a story where a traveler slowly gets accustomed to a new country’s food and climate after many days
- ✓NOT like "new" or "strange" things that surprise or confuse you—accustomed means the opposite: familiar and normal
- ✓NOT like "forced" or "uncomfortable"—accustomed means you accept or feel okay with the situation
- ✓NOT like "accident" or "sudden"—accustomed happens over time, through repeated experience
Try Other Words
- •Familiar with: knowing something well because of experience (Use when focusing on knowledge rather than comfort)
- •Used to: having experience and comfort with something (Use in informal conversation or when describing habits)
- •Adapted to: changed oneself to fit new conditions (Use when emphasizing change or adjustment process)
- •Comfortable with: feeling relaxed and not worried about something (Use when focusing on emotional ease)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "ac-" (to, toward) + root "custom" (habit, usual way) + suffix "-ed" (forms adjective meaning having the quality)
- •Etymology: From Latin "accustomare," meaning to make familiar with a custom or habit
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to describe becoming familiar with habits or environments
- •Modern usage: Common in formal and informal English to describe being used to habits, situations, or environments
Reflect & Connect
•How long does it take for you to become accustomed to a new habit or environment? Can you think of an example?
•Can someone be accustomed to a bad habit? How does that affect their feelings or actions?
Fill in the blanks
1.She is accustomed to ___ early every morning because of her job.
2.After many months, he became accustomed to the ___ weather in the mountains.
3.Unlike a new visitor, the locals are accustomed to the ___ noise of the city.
4.When you are accustomed to a routine, it feels ___ and easy to follow.
5.People who move to a new country must get accustomed to different ___ and customs.
6.Being accustomed to spicy food means you can ___ it without feeling discomfort.
7.The child was not accustomed to the dark, so he felt ___ when the lights went out.