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View synonyms for

habit

1

[hab-it]

noun

  1. an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.

    the habit of looking both ways before crossing the street.

  2. customary practice or use.

    Daily bathing is an American habit.

    Synonyms: ,
  3. a particular practice, custom, or usage.

    the habit of shaking hands.

  4. a dominant or regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character or quality.

    She has a habit of looking at the bright side of things.

  5. Often the habit addiction, especially to narcotics.

  6. mental character or disposition.

    a habit of mind.

  7. characteristic bodily or physical condition.

  8. the characteristic form, aspect, mode of growth, etc., of an organism.

    a twining habit.

  9. the characteristic crystalline form of a mineral.

  10. garb of a particular rank, profession, religious order, etc..

    a monk's habit.

    Synonyms: ,
  11. the attire worn by a rider of a saddle horse.



verb (used with object)

  1. to clothe; array.

    Synonyms: , , ,

habit

2

[hab-it]

verb (used with object)

  1. Archaic.to dwell in.

verb (used without object)

  1. Obsolete.to dwell.

habit

/ ˈæɪ /

noun

  1. a tendency or disposition to act in a particular way

  2. established custom, usual practice, etc

  3. psychol a learned behavioural response that has become associated with a particular situation, esp one frequently repeated

  4. mental disposition or attitude

    a good working habit of mind

    1. a practice or substance to which a person is addicted

      drink has become a habit with him

    2. the state of being dependent on something, esp a drug

  5. botany zoology the method of growth, type of existence, behaviour, or general appearance of a plant or animal

    a climbing habit

    a burrowing habit

  6. the customary apparel of a particular occupation, rank, etc, now esp the costume of a nun or monk

  7. Also called: riding habit.a woman's riding dress

  8. crystallog short for crystal habit

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to clothe

  2. an archaic word for inhabit habituate

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

habit

  1. The characteristic shape of a crystal, such as the cubic habit that is characteristic of pyrite.

  2. The characteristic manner of growth of a plant. For example, grape plants and ivy display a vining habit.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of habit1

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin habitus “state, style, practice,” equivalent to habi- (variant stem of 󲹲ŧ “to have”) + -tus verbal noun suffix; replacing Middle English abit, from Old French

Origin of habit2

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English habiten from Old French (h)abiter, from Latin 󲹲 “to wear habitually; inhabit; habitat
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Word History and Origins

Origin of habit1

C13: from Latin habitus custom, from 󲹲ŧ to have
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. old habits die hard. old habits die hard.

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Synonym Study

See custom.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"The videos are encouraging people to take up habits I spent the last seven years trying to overcome," she added.

From

Dogs are creatures of habit, he reminded me, as much as humans — or more.

From

But, as Raducanu found against Iga Swiatek in Melbourne and Paris, and Coco Gauff in Italy, there is a different, consistent level needed to beat the players for who winning is a habit.

From

The dysfunctional nature of Spurs was graphically illustrated by chairman Daniel Levy's decision to follow his long-term habit of sacking managers who do not win trophies by sacking the one who finally did.

From

We’re not quite there on the colonization front, but Smith’s prognostication on viewing habits is right on track.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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