routine
/ruːˈtiːn/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A routine is a usual way of doing things, especially one you repeat every day. It can also mean a set of regular activities or habits.
- My morning routine starts at 7 a.m.
- Exercise became part of her routine.
- We need a routine for checking the reports.
adjective
Routine means ordinary, usual, or done as part of a regular process. It often describes something not exciting or not special.
- It was just a routine check-up.
- He handled the routine paperwork quickly.
- This is a routine procedure.
Adinary Nuance
Routine is close to habit, practice, and regular. Use routine when you mean a fixed, repeated pattern, especially in daily life or work. Habit is more about something you do naturally, while routine is the full pattern of actions.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thói quen
- Spanish
- rutina
- Chinese
- 常规
- Japanese
- ルーティン
- Korean
- 일과
Etymology
Routine came into English from French routine in the 18th century. It comes from route, meaning a regular path or course.
Common phrases
daily routinework routineroutine check-uproutine task
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is routine a noun or an adjective?
- It can be both. As a noun, it means a regular pattern. As an adjective, it means usual or ordinary.
- What is the difference between routine and habit?
- A habit is something you do often. A routine is the whole set of repeated actions, like your morning actions.
- Is routine formal or informal?
- It is neutral. You can use it in everyday speech, business writing, and academic English.
- How do I use routine in a sentence?
- You can say, 'I have a fixed routine' or 'This is a routine check.'