hobby
HO-bee
Hobby (noun) means an activity someone does regularly for pleasure in their free time, not for work. Example: “Gardening has been her favorite hobby for years.”
noun
1
An activity someone does regularly for pleasure in their free time, not for work.
"Gardening has been her favorite hobby for years."
"He picked up woodworking as a hobby after retiring."
"Collecting stamps is a quiet hobby that costs very little."
2
Any of several small, fast falcons, especially Falco subbuteo.
"A hobby swooped low over the field chasing dragonflies."
How to use hobby
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething you enjoy doing in your spare time, purely for fun.
Common pairings
take up a hobby
hobby of choice
pursue a hobby
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Word forms
- Plural
- hobbies
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Can you complete this real example?
Gardening has been her favorite _____ for years.
Etymology
Shortened from "hobby-horse", originally meaning a small pony, which came to mean a toy riding-horse, and eventually a favorite pastime — the link being an activity that, like a toy horse, "goes nowhere".
Synonyms
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avocation
recreation
interest
sideline
hobbyhorse
leisure activity
pastime
amusement
diversion
divertisement
fancy
kill-time
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hobby
See all rhymes for hobby →Frequently asked questions
What does “hobby” mean?
The word “hobby” means an activity someone does regularly for pleasure in their free time, not for work. In plain terms, something you enjoy doing in your spare time, purely for fun.
How do you pronounce “hobby”?
“Hobby” is pronounced HO-bee (/ˈhɑ.bi/ in IPA).
How do you use “hobby” in a sentence?
Here is “hobby” used in a sentence: “Gardening has been her favorite hobby for years.”
What is another word for “hobby”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hobby” include pastime, amusement, diversion, divertisement, fancy and kill-time.
What is the opposite of “hobby”?
The opposite of “hobby” — its antonyms — is work.
What part of speech is “hobby”?
“Hobby” is a noun.
Is “hobby” a common word?
“Hobby” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “hobby” have?
“Hobby” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an activity someone does regularly for pleasure in their free time, not for work.
What is the difference between a hobby and a pastime?
A hobby is usually an active pursuit you develop skill in and return to regularly, such as painting or model-building. A pastime is any activity that fills spare time pleasantly and can be more casual or passive, such as watching television.
What is the difference between a hobby and a profession?
A hobby is done for pleasure in your free time and not for money, while a profession is paid work you do as a career. An activity can shift from a hobby to a profession once you begin earning a living from it.
When is 'hobby' used to mean a bird rather than an activity?
In birdwatching and nature writing, 'hobby' names any of several small, fast falcons, especially Falco subbuteo. This meaning is unrelated to the everyday sense of a leisure activity and is rarely met outside ornithological contexts.
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