accustom

[uh-kuhs-tuhm]

verb (used with object)

1. to familiarize by custom or use; habituate.

   to accustom oneself to cold weather.

accustom

/ əˈkʌstəm /

verb

1. to make (oneself) familiar (with) or used (to), as by practice, habit, or experience

Other Word Forms

• preaccustom verb (used with object)
• reaccustom verb (used with object)
• unaccustom verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of accustom¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Middle French word acoustumer. See ac-, custom

Word History and Origins

Origin of accustom¹

C15: from Old French acostumer, from costume _custom

Example Sentences

There are old cars, of course, and more mustaches than we are currently accustomed to.

From Los Angeles Times

“If we become accustomed to seeing armed uniformed service personnel in our cities, we risk not objecting to it, and when we stop objecting to it, it becomes a norm.”

From Los Angeles Times

Selhurst Park went wild in celebration, but these are the sort of scenes Palace fans are becoming accustomed to under the superb leadership of Austrian Glasner.

From BBC

And consumers, accustomed to whipping out their smartphones to record everything, might have to change their behavior.

From Los Angeles Times

But the fear many Americans have isn’t coming from street crime or even from the horror of gun violence, to which we have all become sadly accustomed.

From Salon

Related Words

• acquaint 
• adapt