What does accustoming mean?
"Accustoming" is the present participle and gerund of the verb "accustom," meaning to make familiar with something through repeated experience, or to become so familiarized oneself. It describes an ongoing process rather than a finished state — one is accustoming the eyes to darkness, accustoming a child to a bedtime routine, or slowly accustoming the body to a new climate. The word leans formal and literary; in casual conversation speakers usually say "getting used to" instead. Its most idiomatic use is reflexive, as in "accustoming herself to the pace of village life." The word carries a neutral, patient connotation, suggesting gradual adaptation rather than sudden change. It derives from Latin "consuescere," "to grow accustomed," via Old French "acostumer." Related words sharing this lineage include "custom," "customary," and even "costume" — originally simply what one was accustomed to wearing. For writers seeking a precise term for deliberate, incremental habituation, "accustoming" offers a slightly elevated but entirely natural choice.
Present participle of accustom: to make someone or oneself familiar with something through repeated exposure or practice.
"They are still accustoming their eyes to the dim light of the cellar."
Frequently used reflexively ('accustoming oneself to') in formal writing.
As a verbal noun: the process or act of habituating someone or something to a condition.
"The slow accustoming of the troops to desert conditions took months."
Rare outside formal prose; usually preceded by an article or modifier.
Extremely rare; the plural appears only in highly literary contexts when contrasting multiple distinct processes of habituation.
"The memoir records her various accustomings to loss, solitude, and fame."
Accustoming traces back to the same Latin root as 'costume' — because what you wear every day literally becomes your 'custom.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of accustoming
"Accustoming" comes from the verb "accustom," which entered English via Old French "acostumer," built on "a-" (from Latin "ad-", toward) plus "costume" (custom, habit). These trace back to Latin "consuetudinem" (custom, familiarity), from "consuescere," "to become habitual." Words sharing the same Latin root include "custom," "customary," "customer," and "costume," which originally denoted habitual dress before narrowing to theatrical clothing.
Word family
Usage notes
Most often used in formal or written registers; everyday speech typically favors simpler phrasing like 'getting used to.' The reflexive construction 'accustoming oneself to' is the most idiomatic pattern. As a gerund it can function as a noun in phrases such as 'the slow accustoming of the body to altitude.'
Don't confuse with
Accommodating means willingly adjusting or being obliging toward others' needs, while accustoming refers specifically to the gradual process of becoming used to something.