26984 words

habit

5 definitions • 13 examples
1
something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it:

Examples:

out of habit I always buy the same brand of toothpaste out of (= because of) habit.
get into the habit I'm trying not to get into (= start) the habit of always having biscuits with my coffee.
I used to swim twice a week, but I seem to have got out of (= ended) the habit recently.
pick up a habit I was taught to drive by my boyfriend and I'm afraid I've picked up (= caught) some of his bad habits.
break a habit I'm trying to get him to break (= end intentionally) the habit of switching on the TV when he comes home at night.
make a habit of it I don't mind being woken up once or twice in the middle of the night by my flatmate so long as she doesn't make a habit of it (= do it frequently).
in the habit of I'm not really in the habit of looking at (= I don't usually look at) other people's clothes, but even I noticed that awful suit!
2
something annoying that someone often does:

Examples:

have a habit of She has a habit of finishing off other people's sentences.
3
a strong physical need to keep taking a particular drug:

Examples:

a cocaine habit
figurative humorous I'm afraid I've got a chocolate habit.
4
a special piece of long clothing worn by monks and nuns
5
a particular act or way of acting that you tend to do regularly:

Examples:

[ U ] Judy is in the habit of sleeping late on Sundays.
[ U ] I have the habit of checking my e-mail as soon as I log on to my computer.
[ C ] Eating between meals is a bad habit.

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