Wont Meaning and Definition
Wont
Pronunciation
/wɒnt/
Part of Speech
Noun or Verb
Definition
A habit or customary practice, especially one that is regarded as reprehensible or regrettable; a regular and customary activity.
Examples
- Smoking has become wont for him after a long day at work.
- After years of living abroad, she has grown wont to the local culture.
- It is wont for her to spend hours reading before bed.
- The company has come to be wont to the CEO’s strict policies.
- He has become wont to taking long walks in the park on Sundays.
Synonyms
- Habit
- Practice
- Custom
Antonyms
- Ill-habit
- Avocation
Etymology
The word “wont” comes from the Old English word “wunian,” which means “to dwell” or “to be accustomed to.”
Usage Notes
When used as a noun, “wont” refers to a specific habit or practice, such as a wont of drinking too much coffee. When used as a verb, “wont” means to cause someone to become accustomed to or familiar with something.
Cultural References
In Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” Prince Hamlet says, “To be or not to be, that is the question, whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them; but that the noble philosophy of wont and reason would suggest, is merely a pipe dream.”
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- To be wont to something
- To be in the wont of doing something
- A wont of doing something
Related Words or Phrases
- Habit
- Practice
- Custom
- Routine
Collocations
- A wont of doing something
- To be wont to something
- Get into the wont of doing something
Frequency of Use
“Wont” is a less common word and is typically used in formal writing or when emphasizing the speaker’s habit or practice.
Common Misspellings
- Wint
- Wuntt
- Wonted