noun
Common
wont
wuhnt
Wont (noun) means a person's usual habit or custom. Example: “It was her wont to water the garden every morning before breakfast.”
noun
1
A person's usual habit or custom.
"It was her wont to water the garden every morning before breakfast."
"Grandad, as was his wont, fell asleep in the armchair after lunch."
"As was his wont, he arrived exactly ten minutes early."
adj
1
In the habit of doing something; accustomed to it.
"My neighbour is wont to sing loudly while she hangs out the washing."
"They were wont to gather by the river on warm summer evenings."
"She was wont to take a long walk after dinner."
How to use wont
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal, slightly old-fashioned word for someone's usual habit or tendency.
Common mistake
Easy to mix up with "won't" (will not) or "want" in reading — "wont" has no apostrophe and means "habit," not a contraction.
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Word forms
- Plural
- wonts
- Third person singular
- wonts
- Past tense
- wonted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was her _____ to water the garden every morning before breakfast.
Etymology
From Old English gewunod, "accustomed," related to the verb wunian, "to dwell, be used to."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for wont
See all rhymes for wont →Frequently asked questions
What does “wont” mean?
The word “wont” means a person's usual habit or custom. In plain terms, a formal, slightly old-fashioned word for someone's usual habit or tendency.
How do you pronounce “wont”?
“Wont” is pronounced wuhnt (/wʌnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “wont” in a sentence?
Here is “wont” used in a sentence: “As was his wont, he arrived exactly ten minutes early.”
What part of speech is “wont”?
Depending on how it is used, “wont” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “wont” come from?
The word “wont” comes from Old English. From Old English gewunod, "accustomed," related to the verb wunian, "to dwell, be used to.".
Is “wont” a common word?
“Wont” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “wont” have?
“Wont” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person's usual habit or custom.
What is the difference between wont and won't?
Won't, with an apostrophe, is the contraction of "will not." Wont, without an apostrophe, is a completely different word: a noun meaning a person's usual habit ("as is her wont") or an adjective meaning accustomed to doing something ("he is wont to exaggerate").
What is the difference between wont and want?
Want means to desire something, while wont refers to a habit or means accustomed. The two can sound alike in some accents, which causes mix-ups, but "he is wont to complain" means he habitually complains, not that he wishes to.
Is wont formal or old-fashioned?
Yes — wont is a formal, somewhat literary word, kept alive mainly by the set phrases "as is his wont" and "wont to do something." In everyday speech, people usually say "habit," "custom," or simply "usually" instead.
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