habituate

verb

ha·​bit·​u·​ate hə-ˈbi-chə-ˌwāt How to pronounce habituate (audio)
ha-,
-chü-ˌāt
habituated; habituating
Synonyms of habituatenext

transitive verb

1
: to make used to something : accustom
2
: frequent sense 1

intransitive verb

1
: to cause habituation
2
: to undergo habituation
habituate to a stimulus

Synonyms

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Examples of habituate in a Sentence

the sort of lounge lizard known to habituate bars and nightclubs
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The best way to further boost Pakistan's democracy will be to habituate the military to democratic norms and raise the costs of undermining democratic governance. — Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2011 The experiment was conducted in eight meters of open water at a research site in the Mediterranean Sea where the local wild fish are habituated to the presence of divers. — Grrlscientist, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 Human beings habituate to anything that stays the same or is patterned. — Matt Abrahams, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025 People were habituated to constant surveillance and capricious punishments. — Sam Sacks, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for habituate

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of habituate was in the 15th century

Rhymes for habituate

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Browse Nearby Words

habituate
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Cite this Entry

“Habituate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habituate. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

habituate

verb
ha·​bit·​u·​ate hə-ˈbich-ə-ˌwāt How to pronounce habituate (audio)
ha-
habituated; habituating
: to make used to something
habituation
-ˌbich-ə-ˈwā-shən
noun

Medical Definition

habituate

verb
ha·​bit·​u·​ate hə-ˈbich-ə-ˌwāt, ha- How to pronounce habituate (audio)
habituated; habituating

transitive verb

: to cause habituation in

intransitive verb

1
: to cause habituation
marijuana may be habituating
2
: to undergo habituation
habituate to a stimulus

More from Merriam-Webster on habituate

Nglish: Translation of habituate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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