習慣の定義と意味 - メリアム・ウェブスター

HABIT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Est. 1828 Dictionary Definition noun verb noun 2 noun verb Did you know? Synonyms Synonym Chooser Example Sentences Word History Phrases Containing Rhymes Entries Near Related Articles Cite this Entry Citation Kids Definition Kids Medical Definition Medical More from M-W Show more Show more Citation Kids Medical More from M-W Save Word To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In habit 1 of 2 noun hab·​it ˈha-bət Synonyms of habit Take our 3 question quiz on habit Simple Definition A Simple Definition is available from our Learner's Dictionary to help you understand the meaning faster. 1 : a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior her habit of taking a morning walk Take our 3 question quiz on habit 2 a : an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary got up early from force of habit b : addiction a drug habit c : a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance the daily bowel habit 3 a : a costume characteristic of a calling, rank, or function a nun's habit b : a costume worn for horseback riding 4 archaic : clothing 5 : manner of conducting oneself : bearing 6 : bodily appearance or makeup a man of fleshy habit 7 : the prevailing disposition or character of a person's thoughts and feelings : mental makeup a philosophical habit 8 of an organism : characteristic mode of growth or occurrence a grass similar to Indian corn in habit 9 of a crystal : characteristic assemblage of forms at crystallization leading to a usual appearance : shape Quiz: Which word is closest in meaning to habit ? habit 2 of 2 verb habited ; habiting ; habits transitive verb literary : to cover with or as if with clothing : clothe … she habited herself in a peculiarly becoming dress of white linen … — E. F. Benson ( figurative ) It is the nature of such pedantry to habit itself in a harsh and crabbed style. — Richard M. Weaver Did you know? The Origin and Etymology of Habit The word habit most often refers to a usual way of behaving or a tendency that someone has settled into, as in "good eating habits." In its oldest sense, however, habit meant "clothing" and had nothing to do with the things a person does in a regular and repeated way. Today, this meaning is preserved only in phrases like "nun's habit," "monk's habit," and "riding habit" (clothes worn for horseback riding). Like so many words that appeared in English in the centuries following the Norman Conquest, habit came from French. Indeed, the modern French word for clothes is habits (pronounced \ah-bee\). In English, habit progressed from meaning “clothing” to “clothing for a particular profession or purpose” to “bearing, conduct, behavior." (The word’s evolution brings to mind the old adage “the clothes make the man," which asserts that the way we dress reflects our character.) From “what one wears” to “how one conducts oneself,” habit continued to evolve, referring to appearance (“a man of fleshy habit”) and mental makeup (“a philosophical habit”) before, after several centuries in English, it came to mean repeated activity: “a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition.” The specific development of habit to refer to drug addiction began in the 19th century, with reference to opium. Interestingly, even though “clothing” is the oldest meaning of habit in English, it wasn’t the original meaning of the word's ultimate Latin root, habitus . In Latin, that word’s original meaning was “state of being” or “condition.” Our most common use of habit today, “acquired mode of behavior,” didn’t exist in Latin— habitus went from meaning “condition” to “how one conducts oneself” to “clothing.” That it was adapted into English in precisely the reverse order is an accident of history; the order of meanings absorbed from one language to another rarely constitutes a logical development. As with all language, meaning is established by usage and force of habit. Synonyms of habit Relevance Noun ritual practice trick way tendency Verb clothe dress toilet attire costume deck (out) garment rig (out) gown See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus Choose the Right Synonym for habit habit , practice , usage , custom , wont mean a way of acting fixed through repetition. habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively. had a habit of tapping his fingers practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice. our practice is to honor all major credit cards usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm. western-style dress is now common usage in international business custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law. the custom of wearing black at funerals wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group. as was her wont , she slept until noon Examples of habit in a Sentence Noun It was his habit to take a nap after dinner every evening. It's important that parents teach their children good study habits . He fell into some bad habits after graduating from college. It's never easy to break a bad habit . He still gets up early every day from habit . She always closed the door softly out of habit . He hasn't been able to kick his cocaine habit . Verb his exclusive clothing store had habited the town's upper crust for as long as anyone could remember See More Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback . Noun Mira also enjoys content from the influencer Salish Matter, a sixteen-year-old with an intra-Target Starbucks habit who shares a channel with her father, also an influencer. — Anna Wiener, New Yorker , 4 May 2026 Global Brain Coalition The healthier your habits , the higher your score. — Allison Aubrey, CBS News , 3 May 2026 Fine foliage and a trailing habit add to this plant’s charm. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living , 3 May 2026 It is found in the small moments, in how people show up for one another, in the habits of attention, generosity, and care. — Peter Folan, Boston Herald , 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for habit Word History Etymology Noun and Verb Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin habitus condition, character, from habēre to have, hold — more at give First Known Use Noun 13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4 Verb 1594, in the meaning defined above Time Traveler The first known use of habit was in the 13th century See more words from the same century Phrases Containing habit by / from force of habit creature of habit fell into the habit force of habit habit - forming Rhymes for habit abbot rabbit sabot shabbat cohabit inhabit jackrabbit See All Rhymes for habit Browse Nearby Words Habiru habit habitability See all Nearby Words Articles Related to habit 'Snotter', 'Groak', and 6 More Words... Could you please not do that? Odd Habits and Quirks Are you the kind of person who tends to cavil? A Nun's 'Habit' & A Mini-Skirt They have more in common than you might think. Cite this Entry Style MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster “Habit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habit. Accessed 5 May. 2026. Copy Citation Kids Definition habit noun hab·​it ˈhab-ət 1 : a costume characteristic of an occupation, rank, or function her riding habit a nun's habit 2 : a usual manner of behavior or thinking his habit of taking a morning walk 3 : a way of behaving that has become fixed by being repeated often compare reflex entry 1 sense 1 4 : characteristic way of growing or occurring elms have a spreading habit Medical Definition habit noun hab·​it ˈhab-ət 1 : bodily appearance or makeup especially as indicative of one's capacities and condition a man of fleshy habit 2 : a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior 3 a : a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiological exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance the daily bowel habit b : an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary locked the door through force of habit c : addiction was forced to steal to support his drug habit 4 : characteristic mode of growth or occurrence More from Merriam-Webster on habit Nglish: Translation of habit for Spanish Speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about habit Last Updated: 4 May 2026 - Updated example sentences Love words? 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