habitual

adjective

ha·​bit·​u·​al hə-ˈbi-ch(ə-)wəl How to pronounce habitual (audio)
ha-,
-ˈbi-chəl
1
: regularly or repeatedly doing or practicing something or acting in some manner : having the nature of a habit : customary
habitual candor
habitual behavior
habitual drug use
2
: regularly or repeatedly doing, practicing, or acting in some manner : doing something by force of habit
habitual drunkards
a habitual liar
3
: resorted to on a regular basis
our habitual diet
4
: inherent in an individual
habitual grace
habitually adverb
habitualness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for habitual

usual, customary, habitual, wonted, accustomed mean familiar through frequent or regular repetition.

usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

Examples of habitual in a Sentence

He was fired for his habitual lateness. They went for their habitual evening walk.
Recent Examples on the Web The state elected not to proceed on the habitual felon status, the release said. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 But unlike our habitual scramble for adapters and chargers and passports, the packing of an orchestra is a finely tuned and precisely orchestrated operation, requiring months of advance planning and permitting, a crew of nearly a dozen workers and an all-hands effort by the musicians themselves. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024 This habitual house of filth can be found under Y & C Restaurant and, with this record, the owners should want inspection details hidden under a different name. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2024 The Aquarius New Moon on February 9 is as good an opportunity as any to push the reset button before things intensify later in the month, and to free yourself from habitual dynamics that have grown stale. Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2024 And habitual or chronic mouth breathers are subject to a series of health concerns, namely chronic fatigue, lung function, and digestive issues. Samantha Leal, Allure, 19 Sep. 2023 But while alcohol’s risks are well understood, medical experts warn that habitual cannabis use by young people whose brains are still developing affects mental health in ways that researchers are only beginning to uncover. Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Jan. 2024 Like, be cynical, don’t play my instrument in a habitual way, and freely do edgy stuff. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2024 Failing to perform a habitual behavior on occasion will have little impact on the likelihood of the person performing the behavior in the future. Danny Weathers, Discover Magazine, 1 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'habitual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see habit entry 1

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of habitual was in 1603

Dictionary Entries Near habitual

Cite this Entry

“Habitual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habitual. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

habitual

adjective
ha·​bit·​u·​al hə-ˈbich-(ə-)wəl How to pronounce habitual (audio)
ha-
1
: being or done by habit
habitual tardiness
2
: doing or acting out of habit
habitual talkers
3
: done, followed, or used often or regularly
took our habitual path
habitually
adverb
habitualness noun

Medical Definition

habitual

adjective
1
: having the nature of a habit : being in accordance with habit
habitual smoking
2
: doing, practicing, or acting in some manner by force of habit
habitual liars
habitually adverb

Legal Definition

habitual

adjective
ha·​bit·​u·​al hə-ˈbi-chə-wəl How to pronounce habitual (audio)
1
: practicing or acting in some manner by force of custom, habit, or addiction
a habitual drunkard
2
: being such a specified number of times or with designated regularity
habitual offenders
3
: involved in the practice of a person's usual behavior
her habitual residence

More from Merriam-Webster on habitual

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