# force of habit

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/force-of-habit
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- I checked my phone by force of habit.
- He still drives to his old office every morning by force of habit, even though he retired last month.
- She reached for the light switch in the hallway by force of habit, forgetting that the power had been out since the storm began.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.