noun / adjective

wont

WAWNT/wɔːnt/

A usual habit or tendency to act in a particular way.

As is the neighbor's wont, the porch plant gets watered each morning.

Every morning, the same neighbor automatically waters the same porch plant while reaching for the watering can before anyone reminds them, showing an accustomed and likely habit.

Etymology

Wont comes from a participle of wunian, a verb meaning both “dwell” and “be accustomed.” It describes an established habit, so being wont to do something means regularly tending to do it.

In context

Clay Shirky3:57

But technology moved on, as technology is wont to do.

Defend our freedom to share (or why SOPA is a bad idea) | Clay Shirky

Chase Jarvis3:04

and then as things are wont to do, it quickly snowballed

Ryan Holiday: How to Create Work That Lasts | Chase Jarvis LIVE

More examples

He is wont to hum while he cooks.
She checks every detail, as is her wont.
The neighbors are wont to gather on the porch.

Forms

wont

Similar words

habit: The everyday term for a regularly repeated personal behavior.
custom: Often describes shared traditions rather than an individual's habitual behavior.
tendency: Suggests a general inclination, not necessarily an established habit.