hobby

1 of 2

noun (1)

hob·​by ˈhä-bē How to pronounce hobby (audio)
plural hobbies
Synonyms of hobbynext
: a small Old World falcon (Falco subbuteo) that is dark blue above and white below with dark streaking on the breast

hobby

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural hobbies
: a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation
Writing is just a hobby of his.
Her hobbies include gardening and bird-watching.
hobbyist
ˈhä-bē-ist How to pronounce hobby (audio)
noun

Synonyms

Noun (2)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of hobby in a Sentence

Noun (2) his ranch is just a weekend hobby—he makes his real money as an investment banker
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.
Noun
Every Glimpse Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Have Shared Into Life with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet The fruit-picking photo may hint that Meghan's children are helping her with her hobby of jam-making. — Meredith Kile, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025 Golf wasn’t just a hobby for Richard Berle growing up. — Michael Loré, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 Another of her nonmusical hobbies is car collecting. — Damien Scott, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2025 Listen to this article Since Chuck Patton started dabbling in the coffee world in the early 2000s and opened his first retail cafe in 2006, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters went from a hobby to a burgeoning business in La Jolla and beyond. — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hobby

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English hoby, from Anglo-French hobel, hobé

Noun (2)

short for hobbyhorse

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1816, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for hobby

See All Rhymes for hobby

Browse Nearby Words

hobby
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Cite this Entry

“Hobby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hobby. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

hobby

noun
hob·​by
ˈhäb-ē
plural hobbies
: an interest or activity to which a person devotes time for pleasure
hobbyist
-ē-əst
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hobby

Nglish: Translation of hobby for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hobby

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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