hob ‧ by /ˈhɒbi $ ˈhɑː-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural hobbies ) [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: hobbyhorse ]
an activity that you enjoy doing in your free time ⇨ interest , pastime :
What are your hobbies?
Susan’s hobbies include reading, cooking, and drama.
Retirement gave him the time to pursue his hobbies.
—hobbyist noun [countable] :
a magazine for aircraft modelling hobbyists
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REGISTER
In everyday English, people often talk about what they do in their free time rather than use the word hobbies :
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What do you do in your free time?
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In my free time, I like reading and cooking.
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THESAURUS
▪ hobby an activity that you enjoy, and that you like to spend time doing when you are not working:
Stamp collecting has been a hobby of mine since I was a child.
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We had to write an essay about our hobbies.
▪ interest something that you are interested in and like doing or talking about:
Her interests were the same as most young girls – pop music, boys and clothes.
▪ pastime especially written something that you do because it is enjoyable or interesting:
Gardening was her mother's favourite pastime.
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In England talking about the weather is a national pastime (=something that a lot of people in a country do) .
▪ passion something that you feel extremely interested in and care a lot about:
Football was his passion.
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For the French, food is a passion.
▪ pursuit formal an activity that you spend time doing – used especially in the following phrases:
The hills and lakes are used for a variety of outdoor pursuits.
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Her son wasn't really interested in academic pursuits.
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Mountaineering, golfing, and fishing were among his leisure pursuits