Habit: meaning, definitions and examples

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habit

[ ˈhæbɪt ]

^{Context #1}

daily routine

A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.

Synonyms

custom, practice, routine

Examples of usage

She has a habit of biting her nails when she's nervous.
Drinking coffee every morning has become a habit for him.

^{Context #2}

behavioral psychology

A behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance.

Synonyms

inclination, pattern, tendency

Examples of usage

Her habit of always arriving late to meetings is frustrating for her colleagues.
Exercising regularly is a good habit to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

^{Context #3}

clothing

A distinctive set of clothes worn by a religious order or a particular group.

Synonyms

attire, garb, robe

Examples of usage

The nuns wore their traditional habit for the ceremony.
The monks dressed in their brown habit for the procession.

Translations

Translations of the word "habit" in other languages:

🇵🇹 hábito

🇮🇳 आदत

🇩🇪 Gewohnheit

🇮🇩 kebiasaan

🇺🇦 звичка

🇵🇱 nawyk

🇯🇵 習慣 (しゅうかん)

🇫🇷 habitude

🇪🇸 hábito

🇹🇷 alışkanlık

🇰🇷 습관

🇸🇦 عادة

🇨🇿 zvyk

🇸🇰 zvyk

🇨🇳 习惯 (xíguàn)

🇸🇮 navada

🇮🇸 vanur

🇰🇿 әдет

🇬🇪 ჩვევა

🇦🇿 vərdiş

🇲🇽 hábito

Word origin

The word 'habit' originated from the Latin 'habitare', meaning 'to have, hold or dwell'. It entered the English language in the 12th century with the meaning 'condition or character of something'. Over time, it evolved to also refer to customary behavior or dress. The modern sense of 'habit' as a settled or regular tendency developed in the 16th century.