habit
gb/hˈæbət/ us/hˈæbət/
A2
English
~ 2400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A usual way of behaving
Something you do often and usually in the same way, sometimes without thinking about it.
Usage pattern:
to have/get into/break [a habit]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'habit' with 'hobby'; a hobby is an activity you enjoy doing in your free time, while a habit is something you do regularly, often without planning.
Synonyms
custom (More formal; often refers to social or cultural practices rather than personal routines.)
|
routine (Implies a regular sequence of actions, often planned or scheduled.)
Antonyms
novelty (Something new or unusual, the opposite of something familiar and repeated.)
Collocations
break a habit
|form a habit
|bad habit
|good habit
|develop a habit
Themes
daily life
|psychology
|self-improvement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She has a habit of biting her nails when she's nervous.
- Daily exercise became a habit after a few months.
- It's hard to break the habit of checking your phone first thing in the morning.
- He picked up the habit of drinking coffee in college.
Learner examples
- I have a habit of reading before bed.
- She has a bad habit of being late.
- He has the habit of drinking tea every morning.
- It is hard to stop a bad habit.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Clothing worn by monks or nuns
Special clothes worn by monks or nuns to show they belong to a religious group.
Usage pattern:
to wear [a habit]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'habit' (clothing) with 'habit' (behavior); context usually makes the meaning clear.
Synonyms
robe (A long, loose outer garment; can be used for religious or ceremonial clothing.)
Antonyms
casual clothes (Informal clothing not associated with religious or official purposes.)
Collocations
monk's habit
|nun's habit
|wear a habit
Themes
religion
|clothing
Examples
- The nuns in the convent all wore traditional habits.
- He was dressed in the brown habit of the Franciscan order.
- Her white habit distinguished her from the other sisters.
Learner examples
- The nun wears a black habit.
- A monk's habit is simple and plain.
- He puts on his habit before prayer.
Noun
technical
B2
property
3
Natural behavior patterns of animals or plants
The normal way an animal acts or a plant grows in nature.
Synonyms
behavior pattern (A more general term for repeated ways of acting, including in animals.)
Collocations
feeding habit
|growth habit
Themes
biology
|nature
|animals
Examples
- The feeding habits of nocturnal animals are difficult to study.
- This plant has a climbing habit and needs support.
- Scientists observed the migration habits of the whales.
Learner examples
- Birds have different eating habits.
- This tree has a tall growth habit.
- We study the habits of lions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
habit
IPA
GB/hˈæbət/
US/hˈæbət/
Syllables & stress
habit (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (habit)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: habit
- Plural: habit, habits
Word family
Forms
habits
noun
Core family
habitual
adjective B2
habitually
adverb
Advanced or less common
habituate
verb
habituation
noun
Expressions
force of habit
1/fˈɔɹs əv hˈæbət/
fixed phrase
Doing something automatically out of routine
Doing something without thinking because you have done it many times before.
Examples
- I locked the door out of force of habit, even though someone was still inside.
- By force of habit, she reached for her phone first thing in the morning.
kick the habit
1/kˈɪk ðə hˈæbət/
idiom
informal
Stop doing something harmful regularly
To stop doing something bad that you do often, like smoking or drinking too much alcohol.
Examples
- After years of smoking, he finally kicked the habit.
- She’s trying to kick the habit of eating junk food at night.
creature of habit
1/kɹˈit͡ʃɚ əv hˈæbət/
idiom
Someone who prefers routine
A person who likes to do the same things in the same way regularly.
Examples
- I'm a creature of habit and always have coffee at 7 a.m.
- She travels often but is still a creature of habit when it comes to her morning routine.
creature of habit
2/kɹˈit͡ʃɚ əv hˈæbət/
idiom
Person who likes routine and familiarity
A person who likes to do the same things in the same way every time.
Examples
- He's a creature of habit and always takes the same route to work.
- I guess I'm just a creature of habit—I eat breakfast at exactly 7 AM every day.