habituate

[ huh-bich-oo-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ha·bit·u·at·ed, ha·bit·u·at·ing.

1. to accustom (a person, the mind, etc.), as to a particular situation:

   Wealth habituated him to luxury.

   Synonyms: train, acclimate, familiarize

2. Archaic. to frequent.

verb (used without object)

, ha·bit·u·at·ed, ha·bit·u·at·ing.

1. to cause habituation, physiologically or psychologically.

habituate

/ həˈbɪtjʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. to accustom; make used (to)
2. archaic.
   to frequent

Other Words From

• unha·bitu·ated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of habituate¹

1520–30; < Late Latin habituātus conditioned, constituted, (past participle of habituāre ), equivalent to habitu ( s ) habit ¹ + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The media has a responsibility to fight back in kind, and at least try to habituate people to recognizing and confronting the truth.

From Salon

"Animals tend to habituate to these unnatural cues and so deterrent effects are only temporary," he said.

From Science Daily

"By contrast, by mimicking the smell of plants herbivore naturally encounter, and avoid in day-to-day foraging, our approach works with the natural motivators of these animals, with herbivores less likely to habituate to these smells."

From Science Daily

Usually less confrontational but no less compelling are Zada’s encounters with the primates known to habituate such isolated backwaters as Bella Bella and Ocean Falls, drinking Lucky Lager and trading Bigfoot tales and hard luck stories in the local bar as endless rains sheet down outside.

From Seattle Times

"There's this idea that the animals are going to habituate to humans if they're not hunted. But we've shown that this isn't the case.," says Clinchy.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• accustom