habit (ˈhæbɪt
)
Definitions
noun
- a tendency or disposition to act in a particular way
- established custom, usual practice, etc
- psychology a learned behavioural response that has become associated with a particular situation, esp one frequently repeated
- mental disposition or attitude ⇒
a good working habit of mind
- a practice or substance to which a person is addicted ⇒
drink has become a habit with him
- the state of being dependent on something, esp a drug
- a practice or substance to which a person is addicted ⇒
- botany zoology the method of growth, type of existence, behaviour, or general appearance of a plant or animal ⇒
a climbing habit
a burrowing habit
- the customary apparel of a particular occupation, rank, etc, now esp the costume of a nun or monk
riding habit a woman's riding dress- crystallography short for crystal habit
Word Origin
C13: from Latin habitus custom, from habēre to haveSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
mannerism,
custom,
way,
practice,
manner,
characteristic,
tendency,
quirk,
propensity,
foible,
proclivity,
Quotations
"Habit is a great deadener"
"It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks"
"The second half of a man's life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half"
"Habit with him was all the test of truth,`It must be right; I've done it from my youth.'"
"The habits of life form the soul, and the soul forms the countenance"
"The regularity of a habit is generally in proportion to its absurdity"
"Old habits die hard"
Translations
- British English:
habit
A habit is something that you do often or regularly.He has an awkward habit of smiling at the wrong moment.ˈhæbɪt NOUN He has an awkward habit of smiling at the wrong moment.
- Spanish:
hábito
nm
- French:
habitude
nf
- German:
Gewohnheit
nf
- Chinese: 习惯 n
- Arabic: عادَة n
- Portuguese: hábito nm
- Russian: привычка nf
- Croatian: navika nf
- Czech: zvyk nm
- Danish: vane nutr
- Dutch: gewoonte nf
- Finnish: tapa n
- Greek: συνήθεια nf
- Italian: abitudine nf
- Japanese: 癖 n
- Korean: 습관 n
- Norwegian: vane nm
- Polish: zwyczaj nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: hábito nm
- European Spanish:
hábito
nm
- Swedish: vana nutr
- Thai: ความเคยชิน n
- Turkish: alışkanlık n
- Vietnamese: thói quen n
Usage examples
Instead she pulled from the pocket of her habit a book bound in dark red leather with a gold script.
, INSTANCES OF THE NUMBER 3 (2002)The scare and subsequent advice from his doctors saw Quinn drop more than 60 pounds along with a cigar and scotch habit.
Globe and Mail (2003)Neither has it lost its habit of causing problems for itself.
Glasgow Herald (2001)Once you get into the habit of planning ahead, your life will flow more easily.
, YOUR POCKET LIFE COACH: 10 minutes a day to transform your life and your work (2001)