accustom
/ə'kʌstəm/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To make someone or something psychologically or physically used to something through repeated exposure or experience.
- To familiarize by custom or habit.
Usage
The verb "accustom" is used to describe the process of becoming familiar with a new situation, condition, or environment. It is typically followed by the preposition "to" and a noun or gerund. - Structure: accustom [someone/oneself] to [something] - It is often used in the passive voice (be/become/get accustomed to) or in a reflexive construction (accustom oneself to).
Examples
- Active Voice:
- The trainer worked to accustom the young horse to the saddle.
- You must accustom yourself to the cold weather if you move north.
- Reflexive:
- She slowly accustomed herself to the new software.
- Passive Voice (Common):
- He quickly became accustomed to the city's noise.
- I am not yet accustomed to working such long hours.
Advanced Usage
- "To be accustomed to": This is a common adjectival phrase meaning "to be in the habit of" or "to be used to." It functions similarly to "used to."
- She is accustomed to a life of luxury.
- They are accustomed to getting up early.
Variants and Related Words
- Accustomed (adjective): Usual; customary.
- He took his accustomed seat at the head of the table.
- Accustomization (noun): (Less common) The process of becoming accustomed.
- Habituate (verb): A close synonym, often used in more formal or scientific contexts.
Synonyms
- Acclimate: To become accustomed to a new climate or environment.
- Adapt: To adjust to new conditions.
- Familiarize: To make (someone) knowledgeable or conversant with something.
- Inure: To become used to something undesirable.
Phrasal Verbs
Note: "Accustom" itself does not form standard phrasal verbs. The related meaning is carried by the phrase "accustom to."
Related Idioms
- "To be a creature of habit": This idiom describes someone who is very accustomed to a fixed routine, similar to being deeply accustomed to their ways.
- He always eats lunch at exactly 1 p.m.; he's a creature of habit.
Verb
- make psychologically or physically used (to something)
- She became habituated to the background music