Meaning & use
habitual drinker
Last updated
UK/həˌbɪtʃuəl ˈdrɪŋkə/
US/həˌbɪtʃuəl ˈdrɪŋkər/
Meaning
nouncountablemedicalformal
A person who drinks alcohol regularly, especially in large amounts.
Grammar: Countable: a habitual drinker, habitual drinkers.
Patterns
- a habitual drinker
- become a habitual drinker
The doctor asked whether he was a habitual drinker.
Habitual drinkers may develop liver problems over time.
She denied being a habitual drinker, saying she only drank at weekends.
Word forms
| plural | habitual drinkers |
|---|
Common combinations
- a heavy habitual drinker
- He was described as a heavy habitual drinker in the medical report.
- become a habitual drinker
- After losing his job, he became a habitual drinker.
- classified as a habitual drinker
- The patient was classified as a habitual drinker by the clinic.
Synonyms and how they differ
- heavy drinker
- Heavy drinker is the everyday term for someone who drinks a lot; habitual drinker is more clinical and focuses on regularity.
- alcoholic
- Alcoholic is a medical term for someone addicted to alcohol; habitual drinker does not necessarily imply addiction.
Opposites
Practice
A habitual drinker is someone who ______.
Choose one answer.
'Habitual' means done regularly, so a habitual drinker drinks alcohol regularly. The other options describe someone who rarely or never drinks.
Make it your own
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