a tendency or disposition to act in a particular way established custom, usual practice, etc 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 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 - Also called: riding habit
a woman's riding dress
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hab•it1 /ˈhæbɪt/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Animal Behaviora pattern of behavior that is customary and regular, or that is repeated often: [uncountable]:I got up at 6 a.m. out of habit.[countable]Smoking had become a habit.
- Drugs an addiction, esp. to narcotics:[
countable] a serious drug habit. - Clothing[countable] the dress of a particular rank, profession, etc., esp. the long garment worn by some clergy.
- See custom.
hab•it1
(hab′it),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
hab•it2 (hab′it),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
- Animal Behavioran 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.
- 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. - Drugsaddiction, esp. to narcotics (often prec. by the).
- Animal Behaviormental character or disposition:a habit of mind.
- Physiologycharacteristic bodily or physical condition.
- the characteristic form, aspect, mode of growth, etc., of an organism:a twining habit.
- Mineralogythe characteristic crystalline form of a mineral.
- Clothinggarb of a particular rank, profession, religious order, etc.:a monk's habit.
- Clothingthe attire worn by a rider of a saddle horse.
v.t.
- to clothe;
array.
- Old French
- Latin habitus state, style, practice, equivalent. to habi- (variant stem of habēre to have) + -tus verbal noun, nominal suffix; replacing Middle English abit
- Middle English 1175–1225
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged bent, wont.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See custom.
- 10.See corresponding entry in Unabridged dress, costume.
- 12.See corresponding entry in Unabridged dress, garb, attire; deck out.
hab•it2 (hab′it),USA pronunciation v.t.
- [Archaic.]to dwell in.
v.i.
- [Obs.]to dwell.
- Latin habitāre to inhabit; see habitat
- Middle English habiten 1325–75
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'bad habit' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):