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

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

The wildlife team tends to the cubs while wearing bear suits to avoid habituating the cubs to humans. — Isabel Yip, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026

In some cases, DEEP said loud noises are not effective at scaring away bears, especially ones that have already been habituated. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 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