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Definition of second nature
: an acquired deeply ingrained habit or skill
after a while, using the gearshift becomes second nature
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Examples of second nature in a Sentence
After a while, using the gearshift becomes second nature.
speaking and thinking in Japanese simply became second nature to her during the years she spent in Kyoto
Recent Examples on the Web This is New Orleans, after all, and dealing with catastrophic, life changing disasters is almost second nature for residents of the Big Easy.
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Sarah Ravits, NOLA.com, "Spot check: A look into the lives of New Orleans artists and entertainers six months after the start of COVID-19," 14 Sep. 2020 As that stuff becomes second nature, the Colts believe the drops will stop happening so frequently.
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Joel A. Erickson, The Indianapolis Star, "Chemistry between Philip Rivers, T.Y. Hilton easy to see; DeForest Buckner flashes game-wrecking potential," 30 Aug. 2020 Cole's economic empowerment charity, The Pinky Cole Foundation, set a goal to make financial literacy second nature throughout the Black community.
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Christopher A. Daniel, CBS News, "Slutty Vegan, a Black-owned Atlanta burger joint, is serving up jobs and life skills to juvenile offenders," 28 Aug. 2020 But stocking up on the best camping essentials might not feel like second nature if your weekends used to involve more bar-hopping than cliff diving.
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Kelsey Clark, Glamour, "34 Best Camping Essentials for the Newbie Adventurer," 27 Aug. 2020 For Young, nourishing people comes second nature, as does cooking.
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James Cullen, NOLA.com, "In the kitchen or on the mic, trifle with Mia X at your own risk," 24 Aug. 2020 The pandemic has wiped away training camp routines that are second nature to a veteran such as Campbell.
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Childs Walker, baltimoresun.com, "Ravens DE Calais Campbell eager to earn new teammates’ respect, even after 12 seasons, five Pro Bowls," 8 Aug. 2020 The next step is a lot harder: actively working to undo the habitual self-judgment that, for many of us, is second nature.
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Anna Borges, SELF, "This RAIN Meditation Actually Helps Me Practice Self-Compassion," 10 July 2020 To buckle up or buckle down the rules To young North Texans, wearing a seat belt is practically second nature thanks to early life lessons or catchy slogans such as Click It or Ticket.
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Alyssa Fernandez, Dallas News, "‘Government intrusion in private life': Before masks, Dallas residents had anti-seat belt tantrums," 9 July 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'second nature.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for second nature
The first known use of second nature was in 1582
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