humdrumhum‧drum /ˈhʌmdrʌm/ adjective 
the prisoners’ humdrum routine► see thesaurus at boring
WORD ORIGINhumdrum
Origin:
1500-1600 humEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a humdrum job
- Going to night school might improve your chances of getting out of that humdrum job.
- Occasional holidays abroad were the only things that brightened up her otherwise humdrum life.
- How I wish all this was over and I could get back to my humdrum routine.
- It could come in the wastes of the night, or at the most humdrum moments of the day.
- Mirth is an escape from the humdrum just as the transcendent is an escape from the mundane.
- Such excitement was absent during a first half that was more humdrum than humdinger.
- Their lives were, and are, humdrum.
- They get accustomed to humdrum research and will create more when the current assignment runs dry.
- You should still spot-check for humdrum words and phrases.
- Zeinab, whatever else she might be, was definitely not humdrum.
THESAURUS
not interesting in any way: · a boring speech· He found school incredibly boring.
[not before noun] very ordinary and therefore rather boring. People often use this phrase in everyday English, instead of saying directly that something is boring: · The story wasn’t very interesting.
especially written boring: · The conference was usually a dull affair.· Life was never dull.
very boring and continuing for a long time: · The process was tedious and slow.· Jake began the tedious task of sorting through his papers.
boring and always the same: · The work was monotonous and unchallenging.· He was only half listening to the monotonous voice of the teacher.
rather boring, because it is connected with things you do regularly as part of your daily life: · He busied himself with the mundane task of cleaning the house.· Most arguments are over mundane issues like spending or saving money.
[usually before noun] boring because nothing new or interesting ever happens: · He wanted to escape his humdrum life.· a humdrum existence
a subject, piece of writing etc that is dry is boring because it is very serious and does not contain any humour: · The students complained that the lecture was dry and uninspiring.· a dry academic volume
Longman Language Activatorjobs/books/films/activities etc something that is boring is not interesting in any way and makes you feel tired and annoyed: · I don't want some boring job in an office!· a long boring lecture on economic planning· What a boring way to spend an evening!· Most people who see a baseball game for the first time think it's pretty boring.
especially spoken very ordinary and not really interesting or enjoyable: · Did you watch that TV show about Prince Charles? It wasn't very interesting, was it?· There was nothing very interesting in the local newspaper - just the usual stuff.
especially written boring because nothing different, interesting, or exciting happens: · We spent a dull afternoon with some of Harold's business associates.· This kind of mindless work can become very dull very quickly.
something that is monotonous is boring because it always continues in the same way and it never changes: · Life on the farm was slow and monotonous.· The teacher's low monotonous voice almost put me to sleep.
something that is tedious is boring and tiring because it continues for too long: · It was one of the most tedious plays I've ever had to sit through.· Doing all those calculations without a computer would be extremely tedious.
stories, books, remarks etc that are banal , are ordinary and uninteresting, especially because they do not contain anything new, exciting, or original: · It was just another banal newspaper story.· I was expecting an interesting interview but he only asked a few banal questions about the weather.
a job, event, or activity that is mundane is boring and ordinary and gives you very little pleasure, especially because you do it every day: · The play is about the mundane existence of factory workers.· My initial job was pretty mundane, but later I was given more responsibility.
if something such as a job, speech, or a piece of writing or music is repetitive , it is boring because parts of it keep repeating again and again: · As children we suffered through schoolwork that was dull and repetitive.· He has some good ideas, but his lectures can get a little repetitive.
something that is uninspiring has nothing exciting or new about it, and makes you feel bored: · The restaurant's dessert selection was somewhat uninspiring.· Both candidates turned in uninspiring performances in last night's debate.
: humdrum existence/life/job one in which nothing interesting or exciting ever happens and nothing changes: · Occasional holidays abroad were the only things that brightened up her otherwise humdrum life.· Going to night school might improve your chances of getting out of that humdrum job.
especially British a job or an experience that is soul-destroying is extremely boring and makes you very unhappy because you feel that you are a useless person and your life has no meaning: · They spend all day sticking paper labels on toy cars - it's soul-destroying.· Going to the unemployment office and having to wait there for hours is a soul-destroying experience.
British informal /put you to sleep American informal if a speech, performance etc sends or puts you to sleep , it is extremely boring so you completely stop paying attention to it and want to sleep: · All his talk about his financial problems just sends me to sleep.· Isn't there anything else to watch? This movie's putting me to sleep.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY the prisoners’ humdrum routineCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
boring and ordinary, and having no variety or interest SYN tedioushumdrum existence/job/life etc the prisoners’ humdrum routine· It makes us feel better about our own humdrum lives that too much fun is so clearly bad for the health.
the prisoners’ humdrum routine► see thesaurus at boring