habitual
/hə'bitjuəl/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Done or doing something constantly or as a habit: Describes an action, condition, or behavior that is repeated regularly, often to the point of being automatic or characteristic of a person or thing.
- Customary, usual: Describes something that is regular, typical, or established by repeated practice.
Usage
- As an attribute (before a noun): Used directly before a noun to describe a characteristic action or state.
- She has a habitual morning routine.
- He is a habitual coffee drinker.
- As a predicate (after a linking verb like 'is', 'seems', 'became'): Used after a verb to describe the subject.
- His lateness became habitual.
- Such kindness is habitual for her.
Examples
- Describing a repeated action:
- The manager made his habitual round of the office at 9 a.m.
- She gave a habitual sigh of frustration.
- Describing a characteristic of a person:
- He was a habitual gambler, visiting the casino every weekend.
- The journalist was known as a habitual skeptic.
Advanced Usage
- In legal or formal contexts: Often used to describe a persistent pattern of behavior, sometimes with negative connotations.
- The court considered his habitual offending when determining the sentence.
- Habitual residence is a key concept in international law for determining jurisdiction.
- "Habitual of" (less common, slightly formal): In the habit of doing something.
- He was habitual of working late into the night.
Variants and Related Words
- Habitually (adverb): In a habitual manner; regularly.
- She habitually checks her phone first thing in the morning.
- Habit (noun): A settled or regular tendency or practice.
- Brushing your teeth twice a day is a good habit.
- Habituate (verb): To make or become accustomed or used to something.
- It took time to habituate the animals to the presence of researchers.
Synonyms
- Customary: According to the customs or usual practices.
- Usual: Habitually or typically occurring or done.
- Regular: Arranged in or constituting a constant or definite pattern.
- Chronic (especially for negative habits): Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
Antonyms
- Occasional: Occurring, appearing, or done infrequently and irregularly.
- Unusual: Not habitually or commonly occurring or done.
- Rare: Not occurring very often.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- Habitual criminal/offender: A person who has been convicted of multiple crimes and is considered likely to reoffend.
- The state has stricter penalties for habitual offenders.
- Force of habit: Something done automatically because it has been done so many times before.
- I reached for my old phone out of force of habit.
Adjective
-
commonly used or practiced; usual
-
his accustomed thoroughness
-
took his customary morning walk
-
his habitual comment
-
with her wonted candor
-
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