What does wont mean?
Wont is an uncommon English word that survives mainly in formal, literary, and archaic usage. As a verb, it means to be accustomed or regularly do something, often appearing in constructions such as “wont to do.” As a noun, it denotes a habitual practice or characteristic personal behavior, especially in expressions such as “as is his wont.” The adjective sense, “accustomed,” is now archaic. Wont is pronounced like want and is easily confused with the contraction “won't,” which means “will not.” Its historical interest lies partly in its relationship to “used to”: both expressions developed from older English forms meaning to be accustomed, with the initial w eventually disappearing from “used to” but remaining in wont. Although modern speakers usually choose “used to” for the verb and “habit” or “custom” for the noun, wont remains valuable in historical writing and formal prose because it conveys established practice with an unmistakably traditional tone.
To be accustomed or habitually do something.
"The committee was wont to meet at midday."
Chiefly literary or archaic; often followed by an infinitive.
A habitual practice, personal custom, or characteristic behavior.
"He declined the invitation, as was his wont."
Literary and uncommon, but established in expressions such as “as is his wont.”
Accustomed or habituated.
"They were wont companions despite their different backgrounds."
Archaic in modern English.
Rare; used mainly for a person's separate habitual practices or characteristic behaviors.
"The novel traces the private wonts of an eccentric aristocrat."
English once dropped the w from wont and turned it into used to—leaving wont behind in the shadows of formal writing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does wont come from?
Wont descends from Old English wunian, “to be accustomed to,” with the verb particularly associated with infinitives. Through Middle English, it developed the noun sense “custom” or “habit” and became common in expressions describing characteristic conduct. Its Germanic relatives include the German forms gewöhnen and gewöhnt and the Dutch gewoon, all associated with being accustomed or usual.
Related word forms
How wont is actually used
The verb and adjective are literary and archaic, surviving mainly in expressions associated with established habits. The noun is also uncommon but appears readily in formal phrases describing characteristic behavior.
Easily confused with wont
Wont is an independent word pronounced like want, while won't is the contraction of will not and is usually pronounced with a long o and a dropped t.
Wont means to be accustomed or to have a habitual practice, whereas want means to desire or lack something.