GamesDaily CrosswordWord PuzzleWord FinderAll gamesFeaturedWord of the DayWord of the YearNew wordsLanguage storiesAll featuredCultureSlangEmojiMemesAcronymsGender and sexualityAll cultureWriting tipsWriting hubGrammar essentialsCommonly confusedAll writing tipsGamesFeaturedCultureWriting tipsAdvertisementSkip toSkip tohabit1noun (11)verb (used with object) (1)habit2verb (used with object) (1)verb (used without object) (1)AdvertisementView synonyms for AmericanBritishScientifichabit1[hab-it]Phonetic (Standard)IPAnounan acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.the habit of looking both ways before crossing the street.customary practice or use.Daily bathing is an American habit.Synonyms: , a particular practice, custom, or usage.the habit of shaking hands.a dominant or regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character or quality.She has a habit of looking at the bright side of things.Often the habit addiction, especially to narcotics.mental character or disposition.a habit of mind.characteristic bodily or physical condition.the characteristic form, aspect, mode of growth, etc., of an organism.a twining habit.the characteristic crystalline form of a mineral.garb of a particular rank, profession, religious order, etc..a monk's habit.Synonyms: , the attire worn by a rider of a saddle horse.verb (used with object)to ; .Synonyms: , , , habit2[hab-it]Phonetic (Standard)IPAverb (used with object)Archaic., to dwell in.verb (used without object)Obsolete., to dwell.habit/ ˈhæbɪt /nouna tendency or disposition to act in a particular wayestablished custom, usual practice, etcpsychol a learned behavioural response that has become associated with a particular situation, esp one frequently repeatedmental disposition or attitudea good working habit of minda practice or substance to which a person is addicteddrink has become a habit with himthe state of being dependent on something, esp a drugbotany zoology the method of growth, type of existence, behaviour, or general appearance of a plant or animala climbing habita burrowing habitthe customary apparel of a particular occupation, rank, etc, now esp the costume of a nun or monkAlso called: riding habit. a woman's riding dresscrystallog short for “Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012verbto clothean archaic word for “Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012habitThe characteristic shape of a crystal, such as the cubic habit that is characteristic of pyrite.The characteristic manner of growth of a plant. For example, grape plants and ivy display a vining habit.Discover MoreWord History and OriginsOrigin of habit1First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin habitus “state, style, practice,” equivalent to habi- (variant stem of habēre “to have”) + -tus verbal noun suffix; replacing Middle English abit, from Old FrenchOrigin of habit2First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English habiten from Old French (h)abiter, from Latin habitāre “to wear habitually; inhabit; Discover MoreWord History and OriginsOrigin of habit1C13: from Latin habitus custom, from habēre to haveDiscover MoreIdioms and Phrasesold habits die hard. old habits die hard.see .Discover MoreSynonym StudySee .Discover MoreExample SentencesExamples have not been reviewed.Miss MaCleod now sells her products on an alternative cosmetic retailer site and believes there will be a shift in consumer purchasing habits after the problems on TikTok Shop.From He wears two watches — one on each wrist, a habit he has been heard saying he picked up moonlighting as a high school lacrosse referee.From This is something of a habit with this show and this universe, where enough is never truly enough.From However, the company said it recognised "higher inflation and increased cost of living may affect customer purchasing habits" going forward.From Holders New Zealand have a habit of peaking for the World Cup - winning six of the eight they have competed at.From AdvertisementDiscover MoreRelated Words Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBrowse#aabbccddeeffgghhiijjkkllmmnnooppqqrrssttuuvvwwxxyyzzContact usDo not sell my infoFollow usGet the Word of the Day every day!Sign upBy clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com © 2025 Dictionary.com, LLC, American fast-casual restaurant that specializes in award-winning Charburgers grilled over an open flame., The word habit most often refers to a usual way of behaving or a tendency that someone has settled into, as in "good eating habits." In its oldest sense, however, habit meant "clothing" and had nothing to do with the things a person does in a regular and repeated way..