accustom
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of accustom
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Middle French word acoustumer. See ac-, custom
Explanation
The verb accustom means to become used to or familiar with something; to make something a habit. If there is a new baby in your family, you will most likely become accustomed to changing diapers. Although the verb accustom looks like it should be related to the word custom, it actually comes through costume, through the Old French acostumer, with à, meaning "to," and costume, meaning "fashion or habit." Now it retains the meaning to make something a habit. You can accustom yourself to loud sirens if you live in a city or to the sound of crickets if you live in the country. Parents often cannot become accustomed to the musical taste of their kids.
Vocabulary lists containing accustom
List 4
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 7–11
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Tears of a Tiger
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And the notion that video games might accustom people to the idea of war has long been settled: The U.S.
From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2024
Trent, the former customer the Roosevelt Bartell, ended up at the Rite Aid in Wedgwood, where she said she’s had to accustom herself to long waits.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 16, 2023
You can accustom yourself to believing things without support or believing things without empirical validation or believing by simply brushing aside questions.
From Salon • Sep. 24, 2021
So there are technical aspects that Kalbfleisch has to accustom her to.
From Washington Post • Aug. 17, 2017
It wasn’t a very good imitation, but it was better than nothing, and we wanted to do whatever we could to accustom our bodies to space.
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
