accustom
gb/əkˈʌstəm/ us/əkˈʌstəm/
C1
English
~ 8800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
make someone used to something
To make someone, or yourself, feel normal and comfortable with something after seeing or doing it many times.
Usage pattern:
to accustom [someone/yourself] to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often say *"accustom with"* instead of *"accustom to"*. The correct preposition is always **to**: "accustom yourself to the heat", not "accustom yourself with the heat". Another common mistake is using an infinitive instead of a noun or -ing form: say "accustom yourself to getting up early" or "to the new rules", not "accustom yourself to get up early".
Synonyms
adapt (Focuses more on changing to fit new conditions, not specifically on repeated exposure.)
|
habituate (More technical or formal, often used in psychology and science.)
|
familiarize (Emphasizes learning about something so it becomes known, not always full emotional comfort.)
Antonyms
shock (Instead of making something feel normal, it makes someone feel suddenly upset or surprised.)
|
unsettle (Makes someone feel nervous or uncomfortable again, the opposite of helping them get used to something.)
Collocations
accustom yourself to
|accustom someone to
|gradually accustom
|slowly accustom
|accustom children to
|accustom the body to
Themes
daily life
|learning
|psychology
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It took me a few weeks to accustom myself to the noise of the city.
- Parents often try to accustom their children to healthy food from an early age.
- The company runs workshops to accustom new employees to its working culture.
- You will soon accustom yourself to driving on the left side of the road.
- The training program is designed to accustom soldiers to difficult conditions.
Learner examples
- I need time to accustom myself to my new job.
- She is trying to accustom her dog to other people.
- He slowly accustomed himself to living alone.
- The teacher wants to accustom the students to speaking English in class.
- You will accustom yourself to the cold weather after a few days.
Grammar
Dictionary form
accustom
IPA
GB/əkˈʌstəm/
US/əkˈʌstəm/
Syllables & stress
ac - cus - tom (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cus)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: accustom
- 3rd Person Singular: accustoms
- Present Participle: accustoming
- Past: accustomed
Word family
Expressions
accustom someone to [something]
1/əkˈʌstəm sˈʌmwˌʌn tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
make another person used to something
To help another person feel normal and comfortable with something by giving them the same experience many times.
Examples
- Coaches accustom players to pressure by simulating match conditions in training.
- We want to accustom the children to doing their homework every day.
accustom yourself to [something]
1/əkˈʌstəm jʊɹsˈɛlf tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
make yourself used to something
To slowly make something feel normal for you by experiencing it many times.
Examples
- You will have to accustom yourself to speaking in public if you want this job.
- She is trying to accustom herself to life in a foreign country.