The Difference Between acclimatize, accustom and get used to

The Difference Between “Acclimatize,” “Accustom,” and “Get Used To”

English learners often encounter the words “acclimatize,” “accustom,” and “get used to,” which all relate to adapting to new situations. While they share similarities, their usage, connotations, and contexts differ. This guide explores their meanings, grammatical structures, and examples to clarify their distinctions.

1. Definitions and Core Meanings

Term	Definition	Key Contexts
Acclimatize	To adapt physiologically or psychologically to a new environment, climate, or situation.	Often used for physical or environmental changes (e.g., altitude, weather).
Accustom	To make someone familiar with something through repeated exposure (often transitive).	Formal contexts; requires an object (e.g., “accustom oneself to”).
Get Used To	To become familiar with something over time (informal, intransitive).	Everyday speech; focuses on the process of adaptation.

2. Grammatical Structures

• Acclimatize:
  • Intransitive: “She needed time to acclimatize to the tropical heat.”
  • Transitive (rare): “The training acclimatized soldiers to extreme conditions.”
• Accustom:
  • Requires an object: “He accustomed himself to waking up early.”
  • Often reflexive: “They accustomed themselves to the noise.”
• Get Used To:
  • Phrasal verb + gerund/noun: “I got used to living alone.”
  • No object needed: “She got used to the spicy food.”

3. Nuances and Examples

Acclimatize

Implies a biological or systemic adjustment, often to natural environments:

• “Mountaineers must acclimatize to high altitudes to avoid sickness.”
• “It took weeks for the plants to acclimatize to the greenhouse.”

Accustom

Suggests deliberate or repeated exposure, often in formal writing:

• “The program accustomed students to rigorous academic standards.”
• “She accustomed her ears to the dialect by listening daily.”

Get Used To

Casual and emphasizes personal adaptation over time:

• “You’ll get used to the accent after a few months.”
• “He never got used to the cold winters.”

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using “acclimatize” for non-physical changes: Avoid “I acclimatized to the new job” (use “got used to”).
• Omitting the object with “accustom”: Incorrect: “She accustomed to the schedule.” Correct: “She accustomed herself to the schedule.”
• Confusing “get used to” with “used to”: “Used to” refers to past habits (e.g., “I used to smoke”), while “get used to” describes adaptation.

5. Summary Table

Term	Formality	Transitivity	Example
Acclimatize	Formal/Technical	Usually intransitive	“Athletes acclimatize to humidity.”
Accustom	Formal	Transitive (needs object)	“She accustomed herself to the routine.”
Get Used To	Informal	Intransitive	“They got used to the time difference.”

Understanding these distinctions will help you choose the right term for context, whether discussing physical adaptation, habitual exposure, or everyday adjustments.