routine

American  

[roo-teen] / ruˈtin /

noun

1. a customary or regular course of procedure.

2. commonplace tasks, chores, or duties as must be done regularly or at specified intervals; typical or everyday activity.

   the routine of an office.

3. regular, unvarying, habitual, unimaginative, or rote procedure.

4. an unvarying and constantly repeated formula, as of speech or action; convenient or predictable response.

   Don't give me that brotherly-love routine!

5. Computers.

   1. a complete set of coded instructions directing a computer to perform a series of operations.

   2. a series of operations performed by the computer.

6. an individual act, performance, or part of a performance, as a song or dance, given regularly by an entertainer.

   a comic routine; a dance routine.

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adjective

1. of the nature of, proceeding by, or adhering to routine.

   routine duties.

2. dull or uninteresting; commonplace.

   Synonyms:

   typical, ordinary, habitual

routine British  

/ ruːˈtiːn /

noun

1. a usual or regular method of procedure, esp one that is unvarying

2. computing a program or part of a program performing a specific function

   an input routine

   an output routine

3. a set sequence of dance steps

4. informal a hackneyed or insincere speech

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of routine

Other Word Forms

• nonroutine adjective
• routinely adverb
• routineness noun
• unroutine adjective

Etymology

Origin of routine

First recorded in 1670–80; from French, derivative of route route

Example Sentences

“It’s about becoming part of that daily lifestyle and daily routine.”

From Barron's

It has some evident benefits in relieving doctors of the back-office routines that consume hours better spent treating patients, such as filing insurance claims and scheduling appointments.

From Los Angeles Times

But lately it’s used for routine tasks such as “l’m leaning in to finish payroll” or ‘I’m going to lean in and have lunch.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The researchers say these findings challenge the routine practice of recommending exercise as the first line treatment for reducing pain and improving mobility in people with this degenerative joint disease.

From Science Daily

I’m kind of copying Kenny and his routine because he gets in crazy shape.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• act
• custom
• cycle
• drill
• groove
• habit
• method
• pace
• pattern
• piece
• practice
• procedure
• program
• system
• technique
• use