habit

noun

UK /ˈhæbɪt/

Word Forms

singular	habit
plural	habits

1
countable/uncountable something that you do often or regularly, often without thinking about it
healthy eating habits
a good/bad habit:
He had acquired some rather bad habits at college.
be in the habit of doing something:
They were in the habit of going for long walks.
get in/into the habit of doing something:
George has got into the habit of going to bed late.
out of habit/from force of habit (=because it is what you usually do):
Whenever I walk by her building I look up at her window from sheer force of habit.
Synonyms and related words
Habits and habitual behaviour
habit
routine
daily life
1. 1a
  countable something that you often do without intending to or without realizing that you are doing it, which can annoy other people
  have the habit of doing something:
  He had the annoying habit of tapping the table when he was nervous.
  Synonyms and related words
  Habits and habitual behaviour
  habit
  routine
  daily life
2. 1b
  countable a physical need to do something regularly such as smoke cigarettes or take drugs
  He started stealing to finance his heroin habit.
  kick/break the habit (=stop it):
  Over 10 million smokers have succeeded in kicking the habit.
  Synonyms and related words
  Relating to using illegal drugs
  abuse
  addiction
  addictive
  Synonyms and related words
  Smoking and not smoking
  ashtray
  cessation
  chain-smoke
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with habit
▪ annoying, bad, dirty, disgusting, filthy, unfortunate
2
countable a simple dress worn by nuns and other members of religious communities
Synonyms and related words
Skirts and dresses
ballgown
caftan
chemise

phrases

habit of mind/thought

not make a habit of doing something/not be in the habit of doing something

old habits die hard

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