by/from force of habit

phrase

: without thinking because it is what one usually does
He reached into his pocket for his keys by/from force of habit.

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“By/from force of habit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%2Ffrom%20force%20of%20habit. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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