wont

1 of 3

adjective

ˈwȯnt  ˈwōnt 

also ˈwənt, 

ˈwänt 

1

: accustomed, used

got up early as he is wont to do

2

: inclined, apt

… revealing as letters are wont to be …

—Gladys M. Wrigley

wont

2 of 3

verb

wont; wont or wonted; wonting

transitive verb

: accustom, habituate

intransitive verb

: to have the habit of doing something

wont

3 of 3

noun

: habitual way of doing : use

… after breakfast, Ahab, as was his wont, ascended … to the deck.

—Herman Melville

Synonyms of wont

Adjective

• used
• accustomed

Noun

• habit
• trick
• way
• ritual
• tendency
• practice
• custom

Choose the Right Synonym for wont

habit, practice, usage, custom, wont mean a way of acting fixed through repetition.

habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

had a habit of tapping his fingers

practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

our practice is to honor all major credit cards

usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.

western-style dress is now common usage in international business

custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.

the custom of wearing black at funerals

wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

as was her wont, she slept until noon

Examples of wont in a Sentence

Adjective

she paced about the room, as she is wont to do whenever she is agitated

Noun

he got up early, as is his wont

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English woned, wont, from past participle of wonen to dwell, be used to, from Old English wunian; akin to Old High German wonēn to dwell, be used to, Sanskrit vanoti he strives for — more at win

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing wont

• as is someone's wont

Kids Definition

wont

1 of 2 adjective

ˈwȯnt  ˈwōnt 

: being in the habit of doing

got up early as he is wont to do

wont

2 of 2 noun

: usual custom