Basic Details
Word: Habitual
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Done again and again as a habit, or doing something so often that it has become a habit, like a habitual latecomer.
Synonyms: regular, usual, customary, routine
Antonyms: occasional, rare, unusual
How to Spell Habitual
Syllables: ha - bit - u - al
Tricky part: Students hear ha-bi-chu-al and write habitul or habitaul. After habit comes u, then al, so the word has the vowels i, u, a in that order.
Watch out for: habitul, habitaul, habbitual
Memory tip: Start with the whole word habit, then add u and al: habit + u + al. Saying the last part as 'you-al' keeps the u from slipping out.
Usage Examples
Example 1: My grandfather's habitual cup of ginger tea arrives at exactly five every evening.
Example 2: Being a habitual nail-biter, Arjun wore plasters on his fingers to break the habit.
Example 3: The shopkeeper greeted his habitual customers by name and kept their newspapers aside.
Fun Fact
Habit and habitat look alike for a reason: both go back to the Latin verb habere, to have or to hold.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Choose the correct letters to fill in the blanks:
hab_t_al
a) e, u
b) i, o
c) a, u
d) i, u
Show answer
d) i, u. Keep habit whole, then add the u before al.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word habitual as used in the sentence:
Mrs Iyer's habitual walk around the lake begins before sunrise, whatever the weather.
a) hurried
b) pleasant
c) occasional
d) customary
Show answer
d) customary. A habitual walk is one she always takes, so it is customary; occasional means the opposite.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. habitual 2. aquaintance 3. rehersal 4. temperment
a) a practice performance held before the real one
b) done regularly, as a habit
c) a person you know only slightly
d) a person's usual nature or mood
Show answer
b) done regularly, as a habit. Acquaintance needs a c before q, rehearsal an a after the first e, and temperament an a in the middle, so habitual is the one to define.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A habitual latecomer is someone who ____.
a) was late only once
b) is late again and again
c) arrives before everyone
d) is never late anywhere
Show answer
b) is late again and again
2. Which of these is a habitual action for most people?
a) winning a big lottery
b) meeting the President
c) brushing teeth every morning
d) climbing Mount Everest
Show answer
c) brushing teeth every morning
