habit

hab|it [ `hæbıt ] noun ***

1. ) count or uncount something that you do often or regularly, often without thinking about it:

healthy eating habits

a good/bad habit: Don't pick up any bad habits from your friends.

be in the habit of doing something: They were in the habit of taking long walks.

get in/into the habit of doing something: George has gotten in the habit of calling me regularly.

out of habit/from force of habit (=because it is what you usually do): Whenever I walk by her building I look up at her window from sheer force of habit.

a ) count something that you often do without intending to or without realizing that you are doing it, which can annoy other people:

have the habit of doing something: He had the annoying habit of tapping the table when he was nervous.

b ) count a physical need to do something regularly such as smoke cigarettes or take drugs:

He started stealing to finance his heroin habit.

kick/break the habit (=stop it): Over 10 million smokers have succeeded in kicking the habit.

2. ) count a simple dress worn by NUNS and other members of religious communities

not make a habit of doing something/not be in the habit of doing something

used for saying that you do not usually do something that you have just done:

I don't make a habit of interrupting other people's conversations.

old habits die hard SPOKEN

used for saying that it is difficult to change a way of behaving that someone has had for many years