Accustomed means familiar with something through experience or habit. When you're accustomed to something, it feels normal and comfortable because you've done it or experienced it many times before.

A student who moves from a small school to a large one might feel overwhelmed at first by crowded hallways and dozens of classrooms. But after a few weeks, she becomes accustomed to the bustle and noise. What once seemed chaotic now feels routine. Similarly, if you're accustomed to waking up early for soccer practice, getting up at 6 a.m. doesn't bother you the way it might shock someone who usually sleeps until 8.

The word often appears in the phrase accustomed to. You might be accustomed to cold winters if you've always lived in Minnesota, or accustomed to spicy food if your family cooks with hot peppers regularly. Sometimes people say they've grown accustomed to something, meaning they gradually got used to it over time.

Being accustomed to something doesn't necessarily mean you love it. You can be accustomed to your little brother's loud music without actually enjoying it. It just means the experience no longer surprises or disturbs you because it's become part of your everyday life.