routine
Americannoun
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a customary or regular course of procedure.
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commonplace tasks, chores, or duties as must be done regularly or at specified intervals; typical or everyday activity.
the routine of an office.
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regular, unvarying, habitual, unimaginative, or rote procedure.
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an unvarying and constantly repeated formula, as of speech or action; convenient or predictable response.
Don't give me that brotherly-love routine!
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Computers.
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a complete set of coded instructions directing a computer to perform a series of operations.
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a series of operations performed by the computer.
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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.
adjective
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of the nature of, proceeding by, or adhering to routine.
routine duties.
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dull or uninteresting; commonplace.
noun
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a usual or regular method of procedure, esp one that is unvarying
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computing a program or part of a program performing a specific function
an input routine
an output routine
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a set sequence of dance steps
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informal a hackneyed or insincere speech
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of routine
First recorded in 1670–80; from French, derivative of route route
Explanation
A routine is like a habit or sequence that doesn't vary. There are daily routines and dance routines, and maybe even daily dance routines. Something routine isn't unusual: routine things happen all the time. Most jobs have a routine — things that must be done on a regular basis. People often get surprised by things that aren't part of their routine, or "shake up their routine." Computer routines are predetermined and predictable. Singers and dancers also have routines — the planned performances they've (hopefully) been practicing.
Vocabulary lists containing routine
Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Bronx Masquerade
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The Circuit
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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.
See Examples For:
"With regular helps, there is a fixed schedule and I have to adjust my routine around their availability," she told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
The researchers also point to evidence that the routine may be manageable outside a controlled study.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
The employees were completing routine field work near the picturesque waters of Gumboot Lake when things took a terrifying turn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
In recent days it has expanded beyond routine attacks on U.S. bases in Bahrain and Kuwait.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Maybe rational rovers like Journey can solve routine problems.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
Because both early and late eating windows produced lasting benefits, patients may be able to choose the schedule that fits their routines most comfortably.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
She said there’s grief for the people, routines and even a person’s identity that’s been left behind.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
Competing on only beam and floor, Ohashi needs to reach 26.80 points in her routines to qualify for the national championships.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Over the past four years, residents have developed sheltering routines, which range from huddling in apartment corridors to rushing underground for greater safety.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
She was tall and pretty with strong shoulders and well-defined muscles, and she always killed it on her routines.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
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.