English Reference
Idiom idiom

force of habit


An act that has been repeated to the point where the performance of the act becomes automatic.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

I checked my phone by force of habit.

CONTEXTUAL

He still drives to his old office every morning by force of habit, even though he retired last month.

COMPLEX

She reached for the light switch in the hallway by force of habit, forgetting that the power had been out since the storm began.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    creature of habit

    One who is prone to routine.

  2. 02

    force down someone's throat

    To shove something down someone's throat.

  3. 03

    force someone's hand

    Bring about a situation which necessitates an agent to act, often causing a plan to be executed prematurely.

  4. 04

    join forces

    To combine labour, to come together, to unite.

  5. 05

    kick the habit

    To recover from or quit an addiction or habit.

  6. 06

    may the Force be with you

    Used to wish someone luck with a difficult endeavor.

  7. 07

    may the Force be without you

    Synonym of may the Force not be with you.

  8. 08

    may the Force not be with you

    Used to wish someone bad luck.

Last updated August 10, 2026