What Does “Accustom yourself to sth” Mean?
“Accustom yourself to sth” means to get used to something or adapt to a new situation or condition over time.
Introduction
The phrase “accustom yourself to sth” is commonly used in English to describe the process of becoming familiar or comfortable with a new experience, habit, or environment. When you accustom yourself to something, you adjust your behavior or mindset to fit that situation. This is often necessary when facing changes such as new jobs, climates, routines, or technologies. Understanding the accustom yourself to sth meaning helps learners express how they adapt to changes in daily life. It is a useful phrase for both formal and informal contexts and helps improve communication about personal development and adaptation.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Accustom yourself to something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To get used to or become familiar with something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Accustom yourself to sth” is a transitive phrasal verb that requires an object after “to.” The structure is:
- Subject + accustom + yourself + to + noun/pronoun
- Example: She accustomed herself to the cold weather.
The verb “accustom” is usually followed by a reflexive pronoun (yourself, himself, herself, etc.) and then the preposition “to” plus the object. It is inseparable, meaning you cannot place the object between “accustom” and “to.”
Examples
- It took me a few weeks to accustom myself to the new schedule.
- He accustoms himself to waking up early for his job.
- We need to accustom ourselves to the changes in the company policy.
- Accustom yourself to speaking in public to reduce nervousness.
- She quickly accustomed herself to living in a different country.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I accustom to the noise.
Correct: I accustom myself to the noise. - Incorrect: He accustomed the weather.
Correct: He accustomed himself to the weather. - Incorrect: She accustoms herself the new rules.
Correct: She accustoms herself to the new rules.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “get used to,” “adapt to,” and “adjust to.” While all mean becoming familiar with something, “accustom yourself to” often implies a deliberate effort to change habits or accept something new.
- Get used to: More informal and common in everyday speech.
Example: I am getting used to the cold. - Adapt to: Focuses on changing behavior or mindset to fit new conditions, often used in formal contexts.
Example: She adapted to the new technology quickly. - Adjust to: Similar to adapt but often refers to small changes or fine-tuning.
Example: He adjusted to the new time zone.
“Accustom yourself to” suggests a conscious process of becoming familiar, often with personal effort.
Common Collocations
- Accustom yourself to the environment
- Accustom yourself to a new culture
- Accustom yourself to the cold
- Accustom yourself to a routine
- Accustom yourself to changes
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of accustom yourself to sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I find it hard to wake up so early every day.
Mark: It’s tough at first, but you just need to accustom yourself to the new schedule.
Anna: How long did it take you?
Mark: About two weeks. After that, it became easier.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “accustom yourself to”:
- When you move to a new city, you need to _______ the different lifestyle.
- She quickly _______ herself to working night shifts.
- It can be difficult to _______ cold weather if you are from a warm place.
FAQs
- Q: Is “accustom yourself to” formal or informal?
A: It is more formal than “get used to” but can be used in both formal and informal settings. - Q: Can I say “accustom to something” without “yourself”?
A: No, “accustom” usually requires a reflexive pronoun like “yourself.” - Q: What is the difference between “accustom yourself to” and “get used to”?
A: “Accustom yourself to” implies a deliberate effort, while “get used to” is more casual. - Q: Is “accustom yourself to” separable?
A: No, it is inseparable. The object always comes after “to.” - Q: Can I use “accustom yourself to” in the past tense?
A: Yes, for example, “She accustomed herself to the new environment.”
