habituate

verb

ha·​bit·​u·​ate hə-ˈbi-chə-ˌwāt 

ha-, 

-chü-ˌāt

habituated; habituating

transitive verb

1

: to make used to something : accustom

2

: frequent sense 1

intransitive verb

1

: to cause habituation

2

: to undergo habituation

habituate to a stimulus

Synonyms of habituate

• haunt
• frequent
• visit

Examples of habituate in a Sentence

the sort of lounge lizard known to habituate bars and nightclubs

Recent Examples on the Web

Generally coyotes pose little threat to humans unless they have been habituated through intentional or unintentional feeding. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026

We of the scrolling generation, in other words, are already habituated to the serial. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026

First, we’ve been habituated to bite-sized texts like, well… texts, Reddit, email and Instagram captions. — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026

The reason for these laws, which exist everywhere grizzlies are found, is that feeding bears can habituate them to humans. — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 21 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for habituate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

habituate

verb

ha·​bit·​u·​ate hə-ˈbich-ə-ˌwāt 

ha-

habituated; habituating

: to make used to something

habituation

-ˌbich-ə-ˈwā-shən

noun

Medical Definition

habituate

verb

ha·​bit·​u·​ate hə-ˈbich-ə-ˌwāt, ha- 

habituated; habituating

transitive verb

: to cause habituation in

intransitive verb

1

: to cause habituation

marijuana may be habituating

2

: to undergo habituation

habituate to a stimulus