5

I'm not sure there is such a word, but I'm looking for a word, which expresses the intention or execution of re-engaging an old habit, which one used to have.

For example, if Joe used to play piano daily in his twenties but lost interest due to lack of time after starting a family, is there such an expression, that Joe can say "I used to play piano daily a long time ago and plan to * this habit soon again" (where * is the expression I'm looking for)?

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  • It's not a single word but get back into smth is commonly used. "I used to play piano daily a long time ago and plan to get back into it."
    – CDM
    Aug 26, 2016 at 23:43
  • Also, habit is probably not the right word here. A habit is a personal behavior, good (like getting up early) or bad (like smoking). An activity like playing the piano is a hobby or pastime. Aug 27, 2016 at 0:05
  • If it's a habit of substance abuse, you say fall off the wagon or more generally for bad behavior, He's back to his old tricks again.
    – user31341
    Aug 27, 2016 at 0:38
  • "relapse" can be either tongue-in-cheek or sadly accurate
    – lll
    Aug 29, 2016 at 21:23
  • I really do not get why people post the negative ones, when only the positive ones are being requested.
    – Lambie
    Nov 8, 2018 at 21:07

6 Answers 6

4

If it is an undesirable hobby, such as excess consumption of alcoholic beverages, "backsliding" is sometimes used. Somewhat more common is the phrase "fell off the wagon".

3

One takes up a hobby. "I took up snorkeling when visiting the reef."

Macmillan Dictionary:

to start doing something regularly as a habit, job, or interest

1
  • So, here, it would be: to take up x again.
    – Lambie
    Nov 8, 2018 at 21:06
3

"I used to play piano daily a long time ago and plan to take it up again soon."

2

Revert to type

revert to type Popularity: Bottom 10% of words Definition of revert to type chiefly British : to go back to doing what one usually does

Also if the old habit was considered a bad one the term relapse is appropriate.

In the case of renewing interest in something that used to be a passion,like playing piano, one might say: "He plans to rekindle his passion of piano playing."

Or as often is expressed by musicians who have taken a hiatus from their instrument: "I plan to pick up ( instrument name) again."

-1

Retrogress /ˌrɛtrə(ʊ)ˈɡrɛs/ verb

  1. go back to an earlier state, typically a worse one. "she retrogressed to the starting point of her rehabilitation"

Relapse /ˈriːlaps/

  1. a deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement.
1
  • 2
    You need to add the sources for these definitions to your answer.
    – Laurel
    Nov 8, 2018 at 20:57

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