# routinely

/ɹuˈtinɫi/ (US) · /ɹuːtˈiːnli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/routinely
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. regularly or normally

adverb · CEFR B2

happening often or as a standard part of a job or life.

For teachers: occurring as a matter of regular procedure or established custom.

- The hospital routinely tests all new patients for the virus.
- The software routinely backs up all user data to a secure cloud server every hour to prevent accidental loss.

### 2. without much thought

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

doing something just because it is a habit, sometimes without thinking about it.

For teachers: performed in a mechanical or perfunctory manner, often as a result of repetition.

- He routinely checked his phone for messages every few minutes.
- The clerk routinely stamped the documents without actually reading the information they contained.

Usage: Often carries a slightly negative connotation of being bored or unthinking.

## Examples

- The nurses routinely check the patients' blood pressure.
- The software routinely backs up your files every hour to prevent any data loss during a crash.
- While the procedure was once considered experimental, surgeons now routinely perform it as a day-case operation with minimal recovery time required for the patient.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.