Results for “what is habit” · retrieved September 22, 2026

Quick answer

A habit is a settled, regularly repeated behavior or way of thinking that often becomes automatic or involuntary.

In psychology, a habit is a learned behavior that is regularly repeated, often becoming automatic or subconscious [2, 3]. These behaviors are developed through repetition and reinforcement, allowing the brain to conserve mental energy for more complex tasks [2, 3]. While habits can be beneficial, they can also create behavioral inflexibility [2]. Beyond psychology, the term can refer to a person's mental disposition, a physical condition, or the characteristic growth pattern of an organism [1, 6, 7]. Historically, the word also referred to clothing, a usage that persists today in specific contexts like religious or riding attire [1, 6, 7].

Answer details

1

Psychological Definition

Habits are learned behaviors developed through repetition and reinforcement, often occurring with little or no conscious thought.

2

Broader Usage

The term can describe a person's mental attitude, physical makeup, or the characteristic way a plant or animal grows.

3

Historical Context

Historically, habit meant clothing; this usage remains in phrases like nun's habit or riding habit.

4

Dependency

In informal contexts, the word is sometimes used to describe a strong physical or psychological dependency on substances like drugs or alcohol.

merriam-webster.com

HABIT Definition & Meaning

noun hab·it ˈha-bət Synonyms of habit A Simple Definition is available from our Learner's Dictionary to help you understand the meaning faster....: a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior...her habit of taking a morning walk...: an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary...: a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility

September 17, 2026

britannica.com

Habit | Formation, Change, Maintenance | Britannica

habit, in psychology, any regularly repeated behaviour that requires little or no thought and is learned rather than innate. A habit—which can be part of any activity, ranging from eating and sleeping to thinking and reacting—is developed through reinforcement and repetition. Reinforcement encourages the repetition of a behaviour, or response, each time the stimulus that provoked the behaviour recurs. The behaviour becomes more automatic with eac

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en.wikipedia.org

Habit

A habit (or wont, the original word in English) is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously. [1] A 1903 paper in the American Journal of Psychology defined a "habit, from the standpoint of psychology, [as] a more or less fixed way of thinking, willing, or feeling acquired through previous repetition of a mental experience." [2] Habitual behavior often goes unnoticed by persons exhibiting it, because a per

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dictionary.cambridge.org

HABIT | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

habit noun (REPEATED ACTION)...something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it: annoying habit He has an annoying habit of arriving just when we are having our meal....something annoying that someone often does:...a strong physical need to keep taking a particular drug: a cocaine habit figurative humorous I'm afraid Ihave a chocolate habit. break the habit of a lifetime often humorous (also change th

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oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

habit noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French abit, habit, from Latin habitus ‘condition, appearance’, from habere ‘have, consist of’. The term originally meant ‘dress, attire’, later coming to denote physical or mental constitution....1. [countable] a thing that you do often and almost without thinking, especially something that is hard to stop doing...17. [uncountable] usual behaviour...31. [countable] (informal) a strong need to keep using drugs,

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dictionary.com

HABIT Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary....customary practice or use....a particular practice, custom, or usage....a dominant or regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character or quality....mental character or disposition....a habit of mind....characteristic bodily or physical condition....the characteristic form, aspect, mode of growth, etc., of an organism....attire worn by...saddle horse...

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api.collinsdictionary.com

habit - definition of habit by HarperCollins

habit(ˈhæbɪt)noun1. a tendency or disposition to act in a particular way...2. established custom, usual practice, etc...3. psychology a learned behavioural response that has become associated with a particular situation, esp one frequently repeated...4. mental disposition or attitude ⇒ a good working habit of mind...a. a practice or substance to which a person is addicted ⇒ drink has become a habit with him...b. the state of being dependent on

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oxfordlearnersdictionaries.co.uk

habit noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French abit, habit, from Latin habitus ‘condition, appearance’, from habere ‘have, consist of’. The term originally meant ‘dress, attire’, later coming to denote physical or mental constitution....1. [countable] a thing that you do often and almost without thinking, especially something that is hard to stop doing...17. [uncountable] usual behaviour...31. [countable] (informal) a strong need to keep using drugs,

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