force of habit
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of force of habit
First recorded in 1920–25
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Our ideals seem to recede in the face of reality, a certain force of habit takes over, and the difficulties that once seemed unimaginable appear to challenge our fidelity.”
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2023
Perhaps it was force of habit that when Paul George discussed how the Clippers could manage their deep roster’s looming crunch for playing time Monday, the star forward called on using “the Team USA approach.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2022
While the host, in part, was deflecting, the deflection was also a force of habit.
From Slate ● May 17, 2022
By force of habit, I switch on the radio.
From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2022
He broke off a corner out of force of habit and was about to reach down with it when he remembered—there was no fox under the table.
From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
