habitnoun
uk/ˈhæb.ɪt/us/ˈhæb.ɪt/habit noun (REPEATED ACTION)
B1 [ C or U ] something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it:
I always buy the same brand of toothpaste out of (= because of) habit.
I'm trying not to get into (= start) the habit of always having biscuits with my coffee.
I used to swim twice a week, but I seem to have got out of (= ended) the habit recently.
I was taught to drive by my boyfriend and I'm afraid I've picked up (= caught) some of his bad habits.
I'm trying to get him to break (= end intentionally) the habit of switching on the TV when he comes home at night.
I don't mind being woken up once or twice in the middle of the night by my flatmate so long as she doesn't make a habit of it (= do it frequently).
I'm not really in the habit of looking at (= I don't usually look at) other people's clothes, but even I noticed that awful suit!
B2 [ C ] something annoying that someone often does:
She has a habit of finishing off other people's sentences.
B2 [ C ] a strong physical need to keep taking a particular drug:
a cocaine habit
figurative humorous I'm afraid I've got a chocolate habit.
More examples
- It's so hard to stop smoking when it's been a lifelong habit.
- Get into the habit of tuning your guitar every day before you practise.
- Picking your nose is a revolting habit.
- Members of the public were asked about their shopping habits.
- We've fallen into the habit of getting up late on Saturday mornings.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Habitual behaviour
- atavistic
- creature of habit idiom
- custom
- diet
- disposition
- dog
- force
- kink
- leaning
- penchant
- practice
- predisposition
- proclivity
- programme
- propensity
- take
- tendency
- wont
- you can't teach an old dog new tricks idiom
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Drug addiction
habit noun (CLOTHING)
[ C ] a special piece of long clothing worn by monks and nuns
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Religious people: monks & nuns
- abbess
- abbey
- abbot
- anchorite
- ascetic
- benedictine
- flagellant
- Franciscan
- friar
- friary
- hermit
- monasticism
- monk
- mother
- novice
- nun
- priory
- sister
- Trappist monk
- veil
See more results »