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View synonyms for hobby

hobby

1

[ hob-ee ]

noun

, plural hob·bies.
  1. an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation:

    Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.

  2. a child's hobbyhorse.
  3. Archaic. a small horse.


hobby

2

[ hob-ee ]

noun

, plural hob·bies.
  1. a small Old World falcon, Falco subbuteo, formerly flown at such small game as larks.

Hobby

3

[ hob-ee ]

noun

  1. Oveta Culp [kuhlp], 1905–1995, U.S. newspaper publisher and government official: first director of Women's Army Corps 1942–45; first Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare 1953–55.

hobby

1

/ ˈhɒbɪ /

noun

  1. an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation
  2. archaic.
    a small horse or pony
  3. short for hobbyhorse
  4. an early form of bicycle, without pedals


hobby

2

/ ˈhɒbɪ /

noun

  1. any of several small Old World falcons, esp the European Falco subbuteo, formerly used in falconry

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Derived Forms

  • ˈhobbyist, noun

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Other Words From

  • hob·by·ist noun
  • hob·by·less adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of hobby1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English hoby(n), probably from Robin, or Robert ( hob 2 ), used as horse's name, as in dobbin

Origin of hobby2

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English hoby, from Middle French hobé, variant of Middle French, Old French hobel (compare French hobereau ), probably noun derivative of hobeler “to skirmish, harass,” perhaps from Middle Dutch hob(b)elen “to turn, roll”; compare Dutch hobbelen “to rock, jolt” ( hobble )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of hobby1

C14 hobyn, probably variant of proper name Robin; compare dobbin

Origin of hobby2

C15: from Old French hobet, from hobe falcon; probably related to Middle Dutch hobbelen to roll, turn

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. ride a hobby, to concern oneself excessively with a favorite notion or activity. Also ride a hobbyhorse.

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Example Sentences

Also, the next Hobby Lobbys, female Kurdish fighters and more.

While the Hobby Lobby decision may have lost its cultural appeal, it still carries weight in the federal court system.

They are for corporations like Hobby Lobby, and vast hospital networks, and, yes, adoption agencies.

The remote controlled flying craft has gone from covert military ops to a communal backyard hobby.

If you really think about it, is this not just some grand hobby?

A strenuous worker, Mr. Johnstone, like most men who have no hobby, did not long survive his retirement from active business life.

The old fellow used to frequent the Quarter in summer, years ago—it was his hobby.

Hobby horses gaily prancing, Bats and Bowls and Maypole dancing.

"The Army's rotten for want of service," grumbled Williams, following out his own pet hobby.

Spiders at present are his hobby, and the note-book is filling up with columns of small figures.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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