routine

The usual way you do things, or the activities you regularly do in a particular order.

• I like my morning routine.
• Our daily routines changed after the baby arrived.
• What is your usual bedtime routine?

Similar words: usual practice, habit

Common phrases: daily routine, morning routine, follow a routine, break the routine

A prepared part of a show, such as a series of jokes or dance movements.

• We learned a new dance routine.
• Her comedy routine made the whole audience laugh.
• The dancers rehearsed their routines before the show.

Similar words: number, act

Common phrases: comedy routine, dance routine, perform a routine

A planned series of actions used to perform a trick.

• He practised a simple card routine.
• The magician's routine ended with a disappearing coin.
• She changed the routine to make the trick more surprising.

Similar words: sequence

Common phrases: magic routine, card routine, perform a routine

Ordinary and usual, with nothing special or unusual about it.

• It was a routine check.
• The car needs routine maintenance.
• Doctors found the problem during a routine examination.

Similar words: ordinary, usual, standard, regular

Opposites: unusual, exceptional

Common phrases: routine check, routine maintenance, routine procedure

Always the same and therefore boring.

• The work became routine.
• She wanted a less routine job.
• Doing the same routine tasks every day bored him.

Similar words: repetitive, monotonous, dull, predictable

Opposites: varied, exciting

Common phrases: routine work, routine tasks, routine job

Done in an ordinary, repeated way, without fresh ideas, care, or interest.

• His performance felt routine.
• She gave a routine reading of the poem.
• The orchestra's routine playing failed to excite the audience.

Similar words: uninspired, mechanical, stale

Opposites: inspired, fresh

Common phrases: routine performance, routine manner, routine delivery