When you go abroad, you'd better keep in mind that tipping is customary.
Source: tatoeba (22204)
Customary
/ˈkʌs.təˌmɛɹ.i/
Synonyms for "customary" (189 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (38)
Adjective(12 words)
habitualaccustomedceremonial dutiescommon lawsconventionalconventional beliefconventional designconventional methodconventional orderconventional practicescultural practicescultural society
Noun(7 words)
common-law marriagecommon-law relationshipcommon-law systemcultural expressionscultural normcultural practicecultural practice norms
Strong matches (57)
Adjective(10 words)
cultural traditioncurrent normscustomary law regimehabitual actionhabitual pattern of behaviorhabitual ritualhasidicinformal policylinguistic conventionlocal government offices
currentde rigueurdecentdecorousestablishedevangelicaleverydayfaithfulfamiliarfirmfixedfolkformalfrequentgeneralgenerally acceptedgoinghabitualhallowedhanded down
Show 16 more words
Noun(10 words)
customary international lawdaily routine patternestablished pattern of behaviorfrench regulerhabituéslaw practicemath conventionmost common-lawmost conventionalnormally expected
Determiner(1 words)
more tribal council bylaws
Related words (94)
obtainingof long standingof the faithof the folkoralordinaryorthodoxorthodoxicalpopularpredominatingprescribedprescriptiveprevailingprevalentproperreceivedrecognizedregularregulationright
Adjective(31 words)
predictablerecurring pattern of behaviorroutine checkroutine dutyroutine meetingroutine schedulestandard abbreviationtradition based methodtradition-basedtradition-relatedtraditionaltraditional arttraditional concepttraditional cottagetraditional cremationtraditional cultural practicetraditional economytraditional holidaystraditional lawtraditional lifestyle
Noun(11 words)
Adverb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: habitual, accepted, accustomed, accustomed, acknowledged.
- Sentence evidence is available for customary, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "customary".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "customary"
Keep "customary" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "customary" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "customary", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "customary" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesMore specific
3 entriesannual customformal practiceseasonal ritual
Collocations
5 entriescustomary behaviorcustomary etiquettecustomary practicecustomary routinecustomary schedule
Inflections
2 entriesmore customarymost customary
Derivations
1 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
16 total sentences available.
In Japan it is not customary to tip for good service.
Source: tatoeba (281298)
In particular, it is customary for actual examples of use of the harmonic mean to generally cover "average speed," and explain no further than that.
Source: tatoeba (327881)
In Asian culture it's customary to take one's shoes off before entering a house or temple.
Source: tatoeba (608950)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "customary"?
Closest matches include habitual, accepted, accustomed, accustomed, acknowledged.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "customary"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.