Routine — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /rü-ˈtēn/ rou·tine

Meaning & Definition of Routine

Routine (noun)

  1. a regular course of procedure
  2. habitual or mechanical performance of an established procedure
  3. a reiterated speech or formula

Routine (adjective)

  1. of a commonplace or repetitious character, ordinary
  2. of, relating to, or being in accordance with established procedure
  3. easily done according to a set way or method

Routine (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: drill, grind, groove, lockstep, pattern, rote, rut, treadmill
    related: daily dozen, regimen, housekeeping, custom, fashion, habit, practice, trick, wont, approach, manner, method, procedure, strategy, style, tack, technique, way, design, plan, program, scheme, convention, policy, tradition

  2. something done over and over in order to develop skill

    "a weapons training routine"

    similar: drill, exercise, practice, training, workout
    related: assignment, homework, lesson, brushup, refresher, review

  3. a performance regularly presented by an individual or group

    "did a tired routine that's been around since the days of vaudeville"

    similar: act, bit, number, shtick, turn
    related: signature

Routine (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events

    "this is just a routine inspection"

    similar: average, common, commonplace, cut-and-dried, everyday, garden-variety, normal, ordinary, prosaic, run-of-the-mill, standard, standard-issue, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday, par for the course
    related: regular, typical, unextraordinary, familiar, homely, plain, plain-Jane, popular, vulgar, natural, customary, wonted, insignificant, trivial, unimportant, frequent, habitual, expected, predictable
    opposite: abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, odd, out-of-the-way, strange, unusual
    near: curious, funny, peculiar, quaint, queer, aberrant, anomalous, atypical, irregular, untypical, rare, recherché, scarce, fantastic, phenomenal, bizarre, far-out, Kafkaesque, outrageous, outré, wacky, way-out, weird, wild, eccentric, idiosyncratic, kooky, nonconformist, oddball, offbeat, unconventional, unorthodox, freak, freakish, conspicuous, notable, novel, outstanding, prominent, salient, signal, striking, unexampled, unprecedented, singular, unique, unparalleled

  2. following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules

    "the routine procedure for filing a complaint with the board"

    similar: ceremonial, ceremonious, conventional, formal, orthodox, regular
    related: authorized, certified, official, sanctioned, accepted, correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly, formalistic, ritual, ritualistic, methodical, orderly, systematic
    opposite: casual, freewheeling, informal, irregular, unceremonious, unconventional, unorthodox
    near: unauthorized, unofficial, graceless, improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecorous, inept, infelicitous, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable

  3. often observed or encountered

    "the movie is a routine thriller that has little to recommend it"

    similar: common, common or garden (chiefly British), commonplace, everyday, familiar, frequent, garden-variety, household, ordinary, quotidian, ubiquitous, usual, a dime a dozen
    related: normal, regular, standard, de rigueur, mandatory, obligatory, general, universal, ceaseless, constant, continual, continuous, incessant, unceasing, endemic, popular, prevailing, prevalent, rampant, perennial, recurrent, repeated
    opposite: extraordinary, infrequent, rare, seldom, uncommon, unfamiliar, unusual
    near: aberrant, abnormal, irregular, unnatural, intermittent, occasional, sporadic

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Routine

The most common words with a similar meaning to Routine:

Chiefly British: common or garden
drill, grind, groove, lockstep, pattern, rote, rut, treadmill, exercise, practice, training, workout, act, bit, number, shtick, turn, average, common, commonplace, cut-and-dried, everyday, garden-variety, normal, ordinary, prosaic, run-of-the-mill, standard, standard-issue, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday, ceremonial, ceremonious, conventional, formal, orthodox, regular, familiar

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Routine

Words with the opposite meaning of Routine:

abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, odd, out-of-the-way, strange, unusual, casual, freewheeling, informal, irregular, unceremonious, unconventional, unorthodox, infrequent, rare, seldom, uncommon, unfamiliar

Related Words for Routine

daily dozen, regimen, housekeeping, custom, fashion, habit, trick, wont, approach, manner, method, procedure, strategy, style, tack, technique, way, design, plan, program, scheme, convention, policy, tradition, assignment, homework, lesson, brushup, refresher, review

Near Antonyms of Routine

curious, funny, peculiar, quaint, queer, aberrant, anomalous, atypical, untypical, recherché, scarce, fantastic, phenomenal, bizarre, far-out, Kafkaesque, outrageous, outré, wacky, way-out, weird, wild, eccentric, idiosyncratic, kooky, nonconformist, oddball, offbeat, freak, freakish

Origin & Etymology of Routine

French, from Middle French, from route traveled way

First known use: 1661

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Routine

Words & Phrases Containing Routine

a matter of routine

Frequently Asked Questions about Routine

What does "Routine" mean?

"Routine" means a regular course of procedure. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a regular course of procedure. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Routine"?

Other words for "Routine" include drill, grind, groove, lockstep, pattern, rote, rut and treadmill. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Routine" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Routine"?

There are 131 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Routine". Common alternatives include drill, grind, groove, lockstep, pattern, rote, rut, treadmill, exercise and practice.

What is the opposite of "Routine"?

Antonyms of "Routine" include abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, odd, out-of-the-way, strange, unusual and casual. Near antonyms include curious, funny, peculiar and quaint.

How do you use "Routine" in a sentence?

Examples of "Routine" in a sentence: "part of my morning routine is drinking a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper"; "a weapons training routine"; "did a tired routine that's been around since the days of vaudeville".

Is "Routine" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Routine" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Routine" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Routine" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Routine"?

"Routine" is pronounced /rü-ˈtēn/ and divided into syllables as rou·tine.