What does habit mean?
A habit is a settled tendency or regularly repeated pattern of behavior. Saying that someone has a habit of walking, speaking, or thinking in a particular way suggests that the action has become familiar through repetition. Habits can be constructive or troublesome, and breaking one often requires conscious effort and sustained motivation rather than a single decision. In a more specialized sense, a habit is a distinctive style of clothing, especially the robe associated with a religious order; the word also has a technical use for a characteristic way of moving or appearing. As a verb, habit means to be accustomed to something, as in a person who habits himself to early rising. The word is neutral and common in both formal and informal English, although describing an action as habitual can imply that it is established rather than occasional.
A settled or regularly repeated tendency, especially a pattern of behavior. It may also mean a distinctive style of clothing or, in specialized use, a characteristic way of moving or appearing.
"His habit of checking his phone during meetings was becoming difficult to ignore."
The clothing sense is chiefly literary or historical, while the movement and appearance sense is relatively specialized.
To be accustomed or regularly do something; in the construction habit oneself to something, to train oneself to become accustomed to it.
"He habituated himself to walking the long way to work."
The expression habit oneself to something is more common than the bare verb used in this sense.
The standard plural of the noun is habits, used for repeated patterns of behavior or, in specialized contexts, styles of clothing.
"Small daily habits can gradually improve a person’s health."
The word’s root is Latin habere, “to have”—the same root that connects it with habitat, inhabit, and habitable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does habit come from?
The English noun entered through Old French habit from Latin habitus, a past participle of habere, meaning “to have, hold.” The Latin word also came to refer to condition, appearance, and clothing. The English verb developed through a related form meaning to make accustomed or to accustom oneself. Other English words based on the same broader Latin root include habitat, inhabit, habitable, and cohabit.
Related word forms
How habit is actually used
Habit is neutral in tone and can describe either beneficial routines, such as reading regularly, or undesirable patterns, such as procrastination. It is generally less intense than addiction and more established than a single custom. The clothing sense is chiefly literary or historical.
Easily confused with habit
A habit is a repeated behavior or tendency, whereas a habitat is the natural environment in which an organism lives.