habituation

noun

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ha·bit·u·a·tion | \ hə-ˌbi-chə-ˈwā-shən

, ha-, -chü-ˈā- \

Definition of habituation

1 : the process of habituating : the state of being habituated

2a : tolerance to the effects of a drug acquired through continued use

b : psychological dependence on a drug after a period of use — compare addiction

3 : decrease in responsiveness upon repeated exposure to a stimulus

Examples of habituation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web If this happens again, hazing to preclude them from causing damage and habituation is encouraged. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2021 Other experiments have traced the acquisition of habituation in the gill withdrawal reflex of the sea slug Aplysia to changes in individual cells. — Jennifer Frazer, Scientific American, 28 May 2021 If this happens again, hazing to preclude them from causing damage and habituation is encouraged. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2021 If this happens again, hazing to preclude them from causing damage and habituation is encouraged. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2021 If this happens again, hazing to preclude them from causing damage and habituation is encouraged. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2021 If this happens again, hazing to preclude them from causing damage and habituation is encouraged. — Mike Wehner, BGR, 5 May 2021 As predicted, Dr Norbury and his collaborators found strong evidence for habituation to unrewarded nesting bird odors by ferrets (Figure 2A) and cats (Figure 2B) before and during shorebird nesting. — Grrlscientist, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2021 As psychologist Rick Hanson, Ph.D., author of Hardwiring Happiness, explains in his book, the brain tends to filter out what doesn’t change (a process called habituation), and that can keep us from experiencing or creating opportunities for joy. — Good Housekeeping, 2 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'habituation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

20 Jun 2021

Cite this Entry

“Habituation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habituation. Accessed 25 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for habituation

habituation

noun

ha·bit·u·a·tion | \ -ˌbich-ə-ˈwā-shən

Medical Definition of habituation

1 : the act or process of making habitual or accustomed

2a : tolerance to the effects of a drug acquired through continued use

b : psychological dependence on a drug after a period of use — compare addiction

3 : a form of nonassociative learning characterized by a decrease in responsiveness upon repeated exposure to a stimulus — compare sensitization sense 3