habit

noun (REPEATED ACTION)

/ˈhæb.ɪt/

Definition

B1 [C or U] something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it: I always buy the same brand of toothpaste just out of (= because of) habit. I'm trying not to get into (= start) the habit of always having biscuits with my coffee. I used to swim twice a week, but I seem to have got out of (= ended) the habit recently. I was taught to drive by my boyfriend and I'm afraid I've picked up (= caught) some of his bad habits. His eating habits are extraordinary. I'm trying to get him to break (= end intentionally) the habit of switching on the TV when he comes home at night. I don't mind being woken up once or twice in the middle of the night by my flatmate so long as she doesn't make a habit of it (= do it frequently). I'm not really in the habit of looking at (= I don't usually look at) other people's clothes, but even I noticed that awful suit!Habitual behaviour B2 [C] something annoying that someone often does: She has a habit of finishing off other people's sentences.Habitual behaviour B2 [C] a strong physical need to keep having a particular drug: a cocaine habitfigurative humorous I'm afraid I've got a chocolate habit.Drug addictionAddiction

(Definition of habit noun (REPEATED ACTION) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)