habit
- 01 A2 Elementary
something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without even thinking about it.
a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.
Simple“He has a habit of drinking a glass of water as soon as he wakes up.”
In context“Developing the habit of critical reflection allows professionals to identify systemic flaws in their workflow before they lead to significant errors.”
Usageoften used with the preposition 'of' followed by a gerund.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a strong need to keep doing something, usually something harmful like smoking.
an addictive dependency on a substance or activity.
Simple“It took him several months to finally kick his smoking habit.”
In context“The clinic provides comprehensive support for individuals struggling to break a long-term drug habit through both therapy and medication.”
Usagefrequently appears in the phrase 'kick the habit'.
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
the long, traditional clothing worn by monks or nuns.
the distinctive costume or vestment of a particular religious order.
Simple“The nun wore a traditional black habit and a white veil.”
In context“The museum's textile collection includes a sixteenth-century Franciscan habit, remarkably preserved despite the fragility of the coarse woollen fabric.”
Synonymsvestmentrobe - 04 C1 Advanced
the natural way that a plant or crystal grows and takes shape.
the characteristic mode of growth or general appearance of a plant or mineral.
Simple“This specific type of ivy has a climbing habit that covers walls quickly.”
In context“When selecting trees for urban spaces, architects must consider the mature growth habit to ensure the canopy does not interfere with overhead power lines.”
From Middle English habit, from Latin habitus (“condition, bearing, state, appearance, dress, attire”), from habeō (“to have, hold, keep”). Distantly related to gift. Replaced Middle English abit, from Old French abit, itself from the same Latin source. Displaced native Old English þēaw.
From Middle English habiten, from Old French habiter, from Latin habitāre (“to dwell, abide, keep”), frequentative of habeō (“to have, hold, keep”); see have.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.