1
a
: a regular course of procedure
if resort to legal action becomes a campus routine—
J. A. Perkins
J. A. Perkins
b
: habitual or mechanical performance of an established procedure
the routine of factory work
2
: a reiterated speech or formula
the old "After you" routine—Ray Russell
Ray Russell3
: a worked-out part (as of an entertainment or sports contest) that may be often repeated
a dance routine
especially
: a theatrical number
4
: a sequence of computer instructions for performing a particular task
1
: of a commonplace or repetitious character : ordinary
routine problems
2
: of, relating to, or being in accordance with established procedure
routine business
Examples of routine in a Sentence
Noun
Grandma gets upset if we change her routine.
A brisk walk is part of her morning routine.
The job will be easier once you settle into a routine.
the boring routine of paperwork
Adjective
The surgery has become a very routine operation and poses little danger.
He criticized her routine absence from important meetings.
The more you do it, the more routine it becomes.
They hire high-school students for routine work such as filing.
Data entry becomes routine very quickly.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kristen Rogers, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025
Woods' rigorous fitness routine raised the bar for professional golfers, and many have followed suit.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
The routine business of the Senate often involves technically skipping procedural steps.
—Ben Adler, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for routine
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Forget the simple bedtime routine of brushing your teeth, washing your face and putting on pajamas.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025
Woods' rigorous fitness routine raised the bar for professional golfers, and many have followed suit.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The policy changes were part of the March 5 consent calendar, a set of routine items that the council approves in one motion.
—Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
The routine business of the Senate often involves technically skipping procedural steps.
—Ben Adler, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for routine
Cite this Entry
“Routine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/routine. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
routine
1 of 2 noun
rou·tine
rü-ˈtēn 
1
: a standard or regular way of doing something
2
: an often repeated speech or formula
3
: a part (as of an act or a sports performance) that is carefully worked out so it can be repeated often
a comedy routine
a dance routine
a gymnastic routine
4
: a set of computer instructions that will perform a certain job
routine
2 of 2 adjective2
: done or happening in a usual or standard way
routinely
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share