habits
habits — noun
1. an action you repeat so often, sometimes without noticing, that it becomes part
an action you repeat so often, sometimes without noticing, that it becomes part of how you usually behave.
Reading before bed is one of Sahil's oldest habits.
common pattern: [activity] is one of [person]'s habits
Many of our daily habits, like brushing our teeth, happen almost on their own.
plural: 'daily habits' for a set of repeated actions
Nadia is trying to build healthy eating habits this year.
After moving to Tokyo, Mizuki picked up the habit of bowing slightly when saying thanks.
Good study habits in primary school often last a whole lifetime.
文法句型
have a habit of + -ing
get into / out of the habit of
用法筆記
Often plural in real-life talk about a person's overall behaviour (eating habits, sleeping habits, study habits). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is neutral, not always annoying.
常見錯誤
2. a small repeated action someone does that bothers other people, like making a no
a small repeated action someone does that bothers other people, like making a noise or interrupting.
Sophia has the irritating habit of tapping her pen during meetings.
common frame: have the irritating / annoying habit of + -ing
One of Vinícius's worst habits is finishing other people's sentences.
structure: one of [person]'s worst habits
Kian's father has a habit of humming loudly while he reads the newspaper.
The dog has picked up the bad habit of barking at every passing bicycle.
文法句型
have an annoying habit of + -ing
用法筆記
Almost always paired with a negative adjective like 'bad', 'annoying', 'irritating', or 'nasty'. Distinguish from sense 1 (neutral): here the speaker is complaining.
常見錯誤
3. a strong, often controlling need for a drug such as heroin, cocaine, or nicotine
a strong, often controlling need for a drug such as heroin, cocaine, or nicotine, especially when stopping is very hard.
After six months in rehab, Zola finally beat her heroin habit.
collocation: beat / kick a [drug] habit
Eli's nicotine habit was costing him over two hundred dollars a month.
structure: [person]'s [drug] habit + cost
The clinic helps young people kick a cocaine habit before it ruins their lives.
Jude was stealing from his family to feed an expensive painkiller habit.
- addiction
more clinical and formal; covers drugs, alcohol, gambling
- dependency
formal / medical; emphasises being unable to stop without help
文法句型
a [drug] habit
kick / feed / support a habit
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by the drug name (heroin habit, nicotine habit). The verb 'kick' is the standard partner for 'quitting'. Distinguish from sense 1: an addiction has physical pull, not just repetition.
常見錯誤
4. in the fixed phrase 'kick the habit': to finally stop doing something you have d
in the fixed phrase 'kick the habit': to finally stop doing something you have done for a long time, especially something harmful like smoking or overeating.
Emily has tried twice before to kick the habit, but she started smoking again last winter.
fixed phrase: kick the habit
After forty years of late-night snacking, Christopher finally kicked the habit.
structure: after [duration], [person] kicked the habit
If Jason wants to save money this year, he really needs to kick the habit of online shopping at midnight.
The doctor smiled and joked that even she had not managed to kick the coffee habit.
- relapse
to start the old habit again after stopping for a while
文法句型
kick the habit
用法筆記
Distinct from sense 3: the focus here is on the act of quitting, not the addiction itself. Often used a little humorously about minor 'bad' routines (coffee, biscuits, late-night TV), not just hard drugs.
常見錯誤
5. a long, plain piece of clothing, usually black, brown, or white, worn by monks o
a long, plain piece of clothing, usually black, brown, or white, worn by monks or nuns as part of their religious dress.
The young nun adjusted her black habit before stepping into the chapel.
structure: adjust / wear a [colour] habit
Sofie was surprised to see the monks gardening in their brown habits and sandals.
plural: monks in their brown habits
In the museum, an old white habit once worn by Mother Teresa hung behind glass.
The artist painted Élise in a simple grey habit, holding a wooden cross.
文法句型
a [adjective] habit
in a habit
用法筆記
Restricted to religious-clothing context; outside this, switch to 'robe' or 'gown'. Often paired with a colour adjective (black habit, brown habit) that identifies the religious order.
常見錯誤
habits — verb
1. in old or literary writing, to dress a person in a long religious or ceremonial
in old or literary writing, to dress a person in a long religious or ceremonial garment, or to be wearing such a garment.
The novice was habited in a plain grey gown by the older sisters.
passive: be habited in [garment]
In the painting, the saint is habited in flowing white robes and holding a small lamp.
literary description: is habited in + [garment]
Old chronicles describe how the knight was habited in fine velvet before the ceremony.
The choir, habited in dark blue robes, filed slowly into the cathedral.
- strip
to remove clothing — direct opposite action
文法句型
be habited in [garment]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the passive ('be habited in'). Found mainly in religious, historical, or literary writing — not modern conversation. For everyday English, use 'dressed in' or 'wearing'.