Meaning & Definition of word "Routine"

Routine

/ruːˈtiːn/

noun:

  • 1. A sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program.
    • Example: She followed her morning routine of jogging and then having breakfast.
  • 2. A set sequence of movements or actions in a performance.
    • Example: The dancer practiced her routine until it was perfect for the competition.
  • 3. A frequently used program or procedure in computing.
    • Example: The backup routine runs every night at midnight to save the data.

verb:

  • 1. To make something routine; to make habitual.
    • Example: He decided to routine his exercise regimen to improve his health.

Etymology

Middle French 'routine', meaning ‘a course, a flow’, derived from 'rute' meaning ‘way or path’.

Common Phrases and Expressions

break the routine:

To do something different from one’s usual pattern of behavior.

in a routine:

Following a fixed plan or habitual approach.

go through the motions:

To do something in a perfunctory way without real enthusiasm.

Related Words

habit:

A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.

schedule:

A plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended events and times.

ritual:

A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.

Slang Meanings of routine

Meaning: Same old, same old

Example Sentence: Living in the city can sometimes feel like the same old, same old.

Meaning: Groundhog Day

Example Sentence: My weekdays feel like Groundhog Day; they are all the same.