1
as in grind
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 exercise
something done over and over in order to develop skill a weapons training routine

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in act
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

1
2
3

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 routine
Noun
For their part, workers who can't seem to quiet their own disquiet can incorporate self-care practices into their daily personal and professional routines. Jeffrey Marcus, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025 This is what to look out for in your own cleaning routine. Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
When school is not in session, your child’s routine might change. Dr. Katherine Williamson/american Academy Of Pediatrics, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025 Just days after a routine Botox injection to treat her migraines, Jenkins, who lives in Orange County, California, noticed something was wrong. David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for routine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routine
Noun
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining oil, the balsamic vinegar, honey, water, garlic, a pinch of salt and a generous grind of black pepper.
    Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025
  • His expertise in building systems has helped countless entrepreneurs escape the daily grind of their businesses.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Patients with desk jobs are usually back to work within a week or two, but have to abstain from exercise until cleared by their surgeon.
    Jolene Edgar, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025
  • This whole exercise of proving the absence of antisemitism as a prerequisite to criticizing Israeli government policy is absurd.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Dine on everything from pate en croute to Faroe Island salmon while taking in a performance from a wide-range of legendary performers: this spring alone sees acts from Glee’s Matthew Morrison to Jeff Goldblum.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
  • By the 1870s, the filibuster had become both a fixture of the political process and a noun — though it was initially applied to the person who gave the speeches, rather than the act of speaking itself, Merriam-Webster says.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This health condition occurs when your blood sugar is slightly higher than normal but not yet in the range for type 2 diabetes.
    Julia Ries, Health, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Augusta National operates differently than normal places.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The crowd jammed into the old mill are joined by West African ceremonial dancers and drummers, popping and locking hip-hop movers from the future, a deejay working turntables and a Rick James-style guitarist bedecked in sequins.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Nanette kills the virtual Robert Daly with his own ceremonial knife through his skull.
    Adam B. Vary, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s not to say there isn’t more cleanup than usual between showings.
    Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • While the set seems a bit on the chintzy side, scenic designer Beowulf Boritt does his usual stellar work, assisted immensely by Ken Billington’s full-of-pizzazz lighting design.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • With the Rapids stuck in a rut trying to find consistent positive energy, and Kévin Cabral struggling to contribute to scoring, something had to change.
    Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025
  • This would be unusual for a wild deer of this size that had survived the rut and was tagged during the late season.
    Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Tariffs are taxes on imports and are intended to reduce the practice.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • What’s more, some private plastic surgery practices don’t accept insurance anyway, which is another thing to inquire about before a consultation.
    Nicola Dall'Asen, Allure, 7 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Routine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routine. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on routine

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!