rote
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈrōt 
1
: the use of memory usually with little intelligence
learn by rote
2
: mechanical or unthinking routine or repetition
a joyless sense of order, rote, and commercial hustle
L. L. King
L. L. Kingrote
2 of 4adjective
1
: learned or memorized by rote
2
: mechanical sense 3a
rotely adverb
rote
3 of 4noun (2)
: crowd entry 3 sense 1
rote
4 of 4noun (3)
: the noise of surf on the shore
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- drill
- grind
- groove
- lockstep
- pattern
- routine
- rut
- treadmill
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English
Noun (2)
Middle English, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hruozza crowd
Noun (3)
perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse rauta to roar — more at rout entry 5
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
1610, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
rote
noun
ˈrōt
: the act of repeating over and over often without attention to meaning
I learned the poem by rote.
rote 1 of 2
noun
as in routine
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity learned the rote for the exercise warm-up but not the reasoning behind it Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- routine
- grind
- rut
- drill
- groove
- pattern
- lockstep
- habit
- practice
- treadmill
- tradition
- method
- procedure
- technique
- approach
- strategy
- housekeeping
- manner
- regimen
- practise
- style
- program
- trick
- custom
- plan
- tack
- fashion
- design
- convention
- way
- scheme
- policy
- wont
- daily dozen
rote
2 of 2adjective
as in usual
Synonyms & Similar Words
- routine
- usual
- unimaginative
- typical
- boring
- monotonous
- ordinary
- standard
- uninspired
- tedious
- conventional
- prosaic
- tiresome
- normal
- imitative
- humdrum
- unoriginal
- uninteresting
- stock
- wearisome
- drab
- drudging
- vapid
- numbing
- derivative
- leaden
- stodgy
- tiring
- cardboard
- pedestrian
- mind-numbing
- cookie-cutter
- ponderous
- canned
- platitudinous
- wearying
- jejune
- arid
- weary
- old
- dreary
- dull
- trite
- pedantic
- stuffy
- bromidic
- tried-and-true
- hackneyed
- ho-hum
- undramatic
- colorless
- jading
- barren
- dry
- dusty
- banal
- ready-made
- tame
- stereotyped
- clichéd
- stale
- cliché
- cliche
- shopworn
- old-fashioned
- heavy
- flat
- old hat
- timeworn
- commonplace
- tired
- obligatory
- well-worn
- threadbare
- platitudinal
- hack
- musty
- hackney
- cobwebby
- twice-told
- moth-eaten
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unhackneyed
- new
- original
- stimulating
- novel
- fresh
- enlivening
- exciting
- engaging
- interesting
- engrossing
- absorbing
- energizing
- riveting
- involving
- animating
- galvanizing
- gripping
- strange
- invigorating
- unfamiliar
- atypical
- intriguing
- unusual
- unaccustomed
- unclichéd
- extraordinary
- unprecedented
- uncommon
- unknown
- pioneering
- unheard-of
- pathbreaking
- trailblazing