regular 1 of 2

adjective

ˈre-gyə-lər How to pronounce regular (audio)
Definition of regularnext
1
as in frequent
appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time what with one or another of our pets having problems, we've been regular visitors at the animal hospital

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in systematic
following a set method, arrangement, or pattern he's followed a regular schedule for almost 20 years: up by 5, in bed by 10

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3
as in formal
following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules thought about having a nontraditional wedding but in the end went with a regular ceremony instead

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unconditional
having no exceptions or restrictions your room is a regular sty, and you need to clean it before you can go to the movies

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in normal
having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind tantrums aren't his regular behavior was just a regular guy who preferred hanging out with friends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

regular

2 of 2

noun

1
as in soldier
a person engaged in military service throughout the war, the regulars were supplemented by corps of volunteers and militiamen

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in familiar
someone who regularly spends time in a particular place the coffeehouse regulars were put out by the interlopers occupying their usual table

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective regular differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of regular are natural, normal, and typical. While all these words mean "being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average," regular stresses conformity to a rule, standard, or pattern.

the club's regular monthly meeting

In what contexts can natural take the place of regular?

The words natural and regular are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, natural applies to what conforms to a thing's essential nature, function, or mode of being.

the natural love of a mother for her child

When is it sensible to use normal instead of regular?

While in some cases nearly identical to regular, normal implies lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as the most usual or expected.

normal behavior for a two-year-old

When would typical be a good substitute for regular?

The synonyms typical and regular are sometimes interchangeable, but typical implies showing all important traits of a type, class, or group and may suggest lack of strong individuality.

a typical small town

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of regular
Adjective
Your Digestion Could Slow Way Down Fiber—which is only found in carb-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains—keeps you regular. —Christina Manian, Health, 14 July 2025 Even Warren Beatty became a regular at Graydon’s table. —Michael Grynbaum, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025
Noun
Netflix’s Vladimir — starring Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall — has added John Slattery (Mad Men), Jessica Henwick (Silo) and Ellen Robertson as series regulars, while Kayli Carter, Miriam Silverman, Mallori Johnson, Matt Walsh, Tattiawna Jones and Louise Lambert will recur. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 7 July 2025 Two were regulars to public comment and the other person came seeking help about access to his business after a lengthy road project was hindering access to his entrance. —Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for regular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regular
  1. frequent
  2. systematic
  3. formal
  4. unconditional
  5. normal
  6. soldier
  7. familiar
  8. periodic
Adjective
  • Advertisement Advertisement Extreme weather events are only becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.
    — Simmone Shah, Time, 15 July 2025
  • The mysterious and frequent deaths of Spinal Tap drummers is a running joke throughout the film.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
Definition of frequent
Adjective
  • The Risks Of Getting A Coffee Enema The systematic review actually found quite the opposite: nine case reports of adverse events occurring from use of coffee enemas.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
  • In a systematic review of studies, researchers found that active children are more likely to report feelings of well-being.
    — Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
Definition of systematic
Adjective
  • Ordered, balanced, formal, and restrained, the chapel draws from Wren’s and James Gibbs’s churches.
    — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 July 2025
  • The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and will have additional details to share very shortly.
    — Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 19 July 2025
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Nonetheless, my hopeful response to my own question is that the transformed form of nature can also be the subject of humanity’s unconditional love.
    — PhotoVogue, Vogue, 10 July 2025
  • The unconditional love a therapy dog provides when visiting those battling an illness can be that source of hope.
    — Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2025
Definition of unconditional
Adjective
  • By morning, service on the subway had resumed on a normal schedule.
    — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
  • Newsweek has contacted the White House press office for comment outside of normal business hours.
    — Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Definition of normal
Noun
  • The victim was a 20-year-old American soldier stationed in West Germany, Edward Pimental, for whom the group set a murderous honeytrap.
    — Katja Hoyer, semafor.com, 19 July 2025
  • The film follow three parallel stories—land, sea and air—as Allied soldiers (led by Fionn Whitehead), a civilian boat captain (Mark Rylance) and an RAF pilot (Tom Hardy) each play their part in the daring evacuation from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 during World War II.
    — Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Definition of soldier
Noun
  • The Santal, in South Asia, believed that witches (always female) copulated with spirit familiars and devoured the organs of children.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 17 May 2025
  • But before Guillermo leaves for good, Nandor offers him a seat in his coffin, which unexpectedly is revealed to be the secret entrance to the underground crime-fighting lair much to the former familiar's delight and surprise.
    — Stacy Lambe, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of familiar
Adjective
  • Rain showers and periodic storms are possible every day through Tuesday before humidity and heat were expected to build again in the Chicago area, the weather service predicted.
    — William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
  • Businesses should conduct periodic audits of cloud consumption, eliminate redundant services and negotiate better contracts with cloud vendors. 4.
    — Motasem El Bawab, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Definition of periodic

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regs
regular
regularities
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Cite this Entry

“Regular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regular. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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