Home UK English hobby

Main meanings of hobby in English

: hobby1hobby2

hobby1

nounhobbies

  • 1An activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.

    ‘her hobbies are reading and gardening’
    • ‘This might be an opportune time to explore or return to hobbies, leisure activities or career pursuits.’
    • ‘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.’
    • ‘Your mood will likely improve when you begin a hobby or recreational activity.’
    • ‘It asked questions about hobbies, activities and the sorts of people I preferred, as well as vocational interests.’
    • ‘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.’
    • ‘Well, does she have a hobby or activity that she could spend more time on?’
    • ‘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.’
    • ‘His hobbies include sporting activities, books, music and foreign languages.’
    • ‘Help them find activities and hobbies they enjoy doing and are good at.’
    • ‘Spend time with your child and participate in his or her favorite activities or hobbies.’
    • ‘He has many other hobbies including reading and swimming.’
    • ‘To launch oneself on the hobby of birdwatching, it is necessary to have a good pair of binoculars.’
    • ‘Also, it left him more time for his hobby of stamp collecting, which he had started during his school years.’
    • ‘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.’
    • ‘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.’
    • ‘He counts horseback riding among his hobbies and has been known to ride up to 30 km in a single morning.’
    pastime, leisure activity, leisure pursuit, leisure interest, amateur interest, sideline, diversion, avocation, divertissement, enthusiasm
    View synonyms

  • 2archaic A small horse or pony.

    1. 2.1historical An early type of bicycle without pedals, propelled by pushing the feet against the ground.
      • ‘The fashion for propelling yourself around town on a hobby was introduced to this country by the London coach-builder Denis Johnson.’
      • ‘I never will mount a Hobby again!’
      • ‘This print satirizes the new fad of riding hobbies.’

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

hobby

/ˈhɒbi/

Main meanings of hobby in English

: hobby1hobby2

hobby2

nounhobbies

  • 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

    • ‘Finally, the honey buzzards, young griffon vultures and hobbies mark the end of the spring or prenuptial migration, around the end of June.’
    • ‘This is a hobby, a bird that is extremely fast and acute in flight reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h.’
    • ‘The hobby is essentially an insect eater.’

Origin

Late Middle English from Old French hobet, diminutive of hobe ‘falcon’.

Pronunciation

hobby

/ˈhɒbi/