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routinely

C1
adverb

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ruːtˈiːnli/

US

  • /ruˈtinli/

Description

Imagine a baker each morning. They do not sometimes make bread; they make it as part of their normal day. It is part of their daily rhythm, something done without much thought because it happens so often. Routinely describes actions that are done as a habit or according to a regular schedule. A doctor might routinely check your reflexes during an exam, and a librarian might routinely shelve books after people return them. If you routinely exercise, it means working out is simply part of your life.

The key is not necessarily enjoyment; you can routinely do things you do not love, like pay bills or commute to work. It simply means they happen regularly as a normal part of life. Think of it as the opposite of "occasionally" or "rarely."

Examples

  1. 1

    Weather check

    She routinely checks the weather before leaving for work.

  2. 2

    Security procedure

    Visitors are routinely asked to show ID at the front desk.

  3. 3

    Software maintenance

    The software is routinely updated overnight.

  4. 4

    Tenant complaints

    Complaints from tenants were routinely ignored for months.

  5. 5

    Medical practice

    Doctors do not routinely give antibiotics for this kind of infection.

    • Pattern

      do not routinely + verb

      do not normally do it as a regular practice

  6. 6

    Workplace exclusion

    In that company, junior staff were routinely left out of important meetings.

  7. 7

    Sports results

    The team routinely beats smaller clubs by two or three goals.

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • routinelyadverb