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noun
1An activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.
‘her hobbies are reading and gardening’- ‘Your mood will likely improve when you begin a hobby or recreational activity.’
- ‘His hobbies include sporting activities, books, music and foreign languages.’
- ‘It asked questions about hobbies, activities and the sorts of people I preferred, as well as vocational interests.’
- ‘Take a course or find an activity or hobby that brings you pleasure and allows you to meet people.’
- ‘However, out of all her many hobbies and activities, Philippa's greatest love was gardening.’
- ‘Even if you don't make money from it, making it part of your leisure time as a hobby will add joy and fun to what you already do.’
- ‘To launch oneself on the hobby of birdwatching, it is necessary to have a good pair of binoculars.’
- ‘This might be an opportune time to explore or return to hobbies, leisure activities or career pursuits.’
- ‘He counts horseback riding among his hobbies and has been known to ride up to 30 km in a single morning.’
- ‘Focus on something that gives you pleasure - a hobby, a good book, or your favorite music.’
- ‘Whether gradual or complete, retirement is improved by hobbies, activities, clubs, social causes, and volunteering.’
- ‘Help them find activities and hobbies they enjoy doing and are good at.’
- ‘Also, it left him more time for his hobby of stamp collecting, which he had started during his school years.’
- ‘He has many other hobbies including reading and swimming.’
- ‘Spend time with your child and participate in his or her favorite activities or hobbies.’
- ‘She reads a lot and one of her favourite hobbies is gardening.’
- ‘She had many hobbies including gardening, knitting, reading and she always had time to chat to her neighbours.’
- ‘She gets a lot of time to indulge in her hobbies like gardening and reading, goes for walk and takes part in many other activities.’
- ‘Well, does she have a hobby or activity that she could spend more time on?’
- ‘He became friendly with many people who had similar interests and whose love for ponies and horses was a shared hobby and way of life.’
pastime, leisure activity, leisure pursuit, leisure interest, amateur interest, sideline, diversion, avocation, divertissement, enthusiasmView synonyms2archaic A small horse or pony.
- 2.1historical An early type of bicycle without pedals, propelled by pushing the feet against the ground.
- ‘I never will mount a Hobby again!’
- ‘This print satirizes the new fad of riding hobbies.’
- ‘The fashion for propelling yourself around town on a hobby was introduced to this country by the London coach-builder Denis Johnson.’
- 2.1historical An early type of bicycle without pedals, propelled by pushing the feet against the ground.
Origin
Late Middle English hobyn, hoby, from pet forms of the given name Robin. Originally in hobby (sense 2) (compare with dobbin), it later came to denote a toy horse or hobby horse, hence ‘an activity done for pleasure’.
Pronunciation
noun
A migratory Old World falcon with long, narrow wings, catching dragonflies and birds on the wing.
Genus Falco, family Falconidae: four species, e.g. the (northern) hobby (F. subbuteo) of Eurasia
- ‘This is a hobby, a bird that is extremely fast and acute in flight reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h.’
- ‘Finally, the honey buzzards, young griffon vultures and hobbies mark the end of the spring or prenuptial migration, around the end of June.’
- ‘The hobby is essentially an insect eater.’
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French hobet, diminutive of hobe ‘falcon’.
