hobby

[ hob-ee ]

/ ˈhɒb i /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hobby ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural hob·bies.

an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation: Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.

a child's hobbyhorse.

Archaic. a small horse.

Nearby words

hobble, hobble skirt, hobblebush, hobbledehoy, hobbs, hobby, hobby farmer, hobbyhorse, hobday, hobgoblin, hobnail

Idioms

ride a hobby, to concern oneself excessively with a favorite notion or activity.Also ride a hobbyhorse.

Origin of hobby

1325–75; Middle English hoby(n), probably for Robin, or Robert (cf. hob²), used as horse's name, as in dobbin

Related forms

hob·by·ist, nounhob·by·less, adjective

Definition for hobbies (2 of 2)

hobby

[ hob-ee ]

/ ˈhɒb i /

noun, plural hob·bies.

a small Old World falcon, Falco subbuteo, formerly flown at such small game as larks.

Origin of hobby

1400–50; late Middle English hoby < Middle French hobé, suffixal variant of Middle French, Old French hobel (compare French hobereau), probably noun derivative of hobeler to skirmish, harass, perhaps < Middle Dutch hob(b)elen to turn, roll; compare Dutch hobbelen to rock, jolt (cf. hobble)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hobbies

Did you two engage in any hobbies or games together in your downtime?
‘Game of Thrones’ Star Maisie Williams on Arya Stark’s S4 Journey and Her Crush on Andrew Garfield|Marlow Stern|June 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But my parents also left me with a dearth of hobbies that make admissions committees salivate.
The Absurd Lies of College Admissions|Megan McArdle|April 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The bottom line: we have our jobs, we work on those; we have our hobbies, we work on those; we have our bodies, we work on those.
The Secrets of Happy Families: Bruce Feiler’s Tips for Parenting|Bruce Feiler|March 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
My father had no hobbies and spent what little free time he had helping my Mom take care of us.
Why I Choose to Be Child-Free: Readers Share Their Stories|Harry Siegel|February 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST

In an online bio, she describes her hobbies as running, skiing, and surfing.
Paula Broadwell, David Petraeus’s Biographer, Is Allegedly His Mistress|Isabel Wilkinson|November 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But the world, Auberon, the real world, is not run on these hobbies.
The Napoleon of Notting Hill|Gilbert K. Chesterton
He has always had two hobbies: one is seeing men made whole, and the other has been fighting cigarettes.
Soldier Silhouettes on our Front|William L. Stidger
She should have not one trade but twenty hobbies; she, unlike the man, may develop all her second bests.
What's Wrong With The World|G.K. Chesterton
Lastly, the Hobbies (Hypotriorchis) comprise a greater number of forms—though how many seems to be doubtful.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2|Various
This rather staggered Solomon, for it upset one of his hobbies.
A Man of Samples|Wm. H. Maher

British Dictionary definitions for hobbies (1 of 2)

hobby

/ (ˈhɒbɪ) /

noun plural -bies

an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation

archaic, or dialect a small horse or pony

short for hobbyhorse (def. 1)

an early form of bicycle, without pedals

Derived Forms

hobbyist, noun

Word Origin for hobby

C14 hobyn, probably variant of proper name Robin; compare dobbin

British Dictionary definitions for hobbies (2 of 2)

hobby

/ (ˈhɒbɪ) /

noun plural -bies

any of several small Old World falcons, esp the European Falco subbuteo, formerly used in falconry

Word Origin for hobby

C15: from Old French hobet, from hobe falcon; probably related to Middle Dutch hobbelen to roll, turn

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012