Definition

1. Noun:

   • A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up: A repeated behavior that becomes automatic.
   • A long, loose garment worn by a member of a religious order: The distinctive robe or dress of a nun or monk.
   • The general form, mode of growth, or appearance of a living thing: The characteristic shape or way of growing of a plant or animal.
   • A woman's riding dress: A formal outfit worn for horseback riding, typically consisting of a jacket and a long skirt.

2. Verb (archaic):

   • To dress or clothe: To put a garment on someone.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Regular Practice):
  • She has a habit of biting her nails when she's nervous.
  • It's a good habit to review your notes every day.
• Noun (Religious Attire):
  • The nun wore a simple black habit.
• Noun (Form/Growth):
  • The plant has a climbing habit.
• Noun (Riding Dress):
  • In the 19th century, a proper riding habit was essential for ladies.
• Verb (Archaic):
  • The queen was habited in robes of state for the ceremony.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in the habit of (doing something)": To do something regularly or customarily.
  • He is in the habit of taking a walk after dinner.
• "To make a habit of (something)": To do something so often it becomes a habit.
  • Don't make a habit of arriving late.
• "To break/kick a habit": To stop doing something that is a regular, often bad, practice.
  • She finally managed to break her habit of smoking.
• "Force of habit": An action done automatically because it has been done many times before.
  • I drove to my old office out of force of habit.

Variants and Related Words

• Habitual (adj): Done constantly or as a habit.
  • He is a habitual coffee drinker.
• Habituate (verb): To make or become accustomed to something.
  • The animals became habituated to the presence of tourists.
• Habitude (noun, rare): Customary manner or practice.

Synonyms

• Custom: A traditional and widely accepted way of behaving.
• Routine: A sequence of actions regularly followed.
• Practice: The actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, often repeatedly.
• Propensity: An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.

Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

• Old habits die hard: It is difficult to stop doing things that one has been doing for a long time.
  • I tried to stop eating sweets, but old habits die hard.
• A creature of habit: A person who follows an unvarying routine.
  • My grandfather is a creature of habit; he eats lunch at exactly noon every day.

Noun

1. excessive use of drugs
2. attire that is typically worn by a horseback rider (especially a woman's attire)
3. the general form or mode of growth (especially of a plant or crystal)
   • a shrub of spreading habit
4. a distinctive attire worn by a member of a religious order
5. (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition
   • owls have nocturnal habits
   • she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair
   • long use had hardened him to it
6. an established custom
   • it was their habit to dine at 7 every evening

Verb

1. put a habit on