habitualha‧bit‧u‧al /həˈbɪtʃuəl/ adjective 
His drinking had become habitual.3[only before noun] usual or typical of someone: James took his habitual morning walk around the garden.—habitually adverb: men who are habitually violent
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Ingrained attitudes and habitual ways of thinking are very difficult to change.
- It is estimated that as many as half the young men in the community are habitual drug users.
- Many of the prisoners are habitual liars.
- My father was a habitual gambler, until my mother packed her bags and threatened to leave.
- Tony's habitual laziness became even more extreme in winter, and he would sometimes stay in bed until mid afternoon.
- Even close friends considered him a habitual liar.
- He watched her intently as she per-formed this habitual act-then climbed into her lap and let her hold him.
- It comes easy to the habitual vagrant; it is well-nigh impossible to the inexperienced.
- She had applied more make-up than usual but with her habitual restraint.
- Soon you will find that you are taking more time to act, instead of reacting with an habitual response.
- The habitual violence of the time was tamed somewhat when the Shoguns settled in Kyoto, from 1393 to 1576.
- What does seem more difficult to believe, however, is that the practice of carrying firearms was habitual among Hooligans.
Longman Language Activatoroften happening or often done
· His job involved making frequent trips to Saudi Arabia.· The doctor recommended frequent salt baths to help the wound heal.· My duties brought me into frequent contact with Captain Nagumo. · As the treatment began to take effect, her headaches became less frequent.frequent visitor/traveller/flier etc (=someone who visits, uses something etc frequently) · As a frequent business traveler, I have spent many nights in bland hotel rooms. · Simmons is a frequent guest on daytime TV talk shows.
repeated actions are done on several occasions, especially because they do not have any effect at first: · The torture involved repeated beatings and electric shock treatment.· There have been repeated requests for the United Nations to send peace-keeping forces to the area.· Massieu remains a free man, despite repeated attempts to arrest him on murder and drug charges.
done often as a habit, especially when this is annoying to other people: · Ingrained attitudes and habitual ways of thinking are very difficult to change.· Tony's habitual laziness became even more extreme in winter, and he would sometimes stay in bed until mid afternoon.habitual drinker/gambler/drug user/offender/felon etc (=someone who does something bad or illegal): · My father was a habitual gambler, until my mother packed her bags and threatened to leave.· It is estimated that as many as half the young men in the community are habitual drug users.
use this about things that annoy you because they happen repeatedly over a long time: · It's impossible to work with these constant interruptions.· We've had continual problems with the computer system ever since it was installed.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The new law will ensure that habitual criminals (=criminals who commit crimes repeatedly) receive tougher punishments than first-time offenders.
The new law will ensure that habitual criminals (=criminals who commit crimes repeatedly) receive tougher punishments than first-time offenders. formal (=who lies a lot)· Drug users are often habitual liars trying to cover up their addiction.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Johnstone has confronted his fall from grace with the kind of honest self-awareness that is rare in habitual drinkers.· Many habitual drinkers of caffeine-containing beverages find that they must increase their dose to achieve the preferred degree of stimulation.· Blood alcohol levels rise at pretty much the same rate in infrequent and habitual drinkers.
WORD FAMILYnounhabithabituéadjectivehabitualverbhabituateadverbhabitually
1[only before noun] doing something from habit, and unable to stop doing ithabitual criminal/offenderhabitual drinker/smoker/gambler2done as a habit that you cannot stop: His drinking had become habitual.3[only before noun] usual or typical of someone: James took his habitual morning walk around the garden.—habitually adverb: men who are habitually violent