behave

verb

be·​have bi-ˈhāv 

bē-

behaved; behaving

transitive verb

1

: to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way

2

: to conduct (oneself) in a proper manner

getting children to behave themselves

intransitive verb

1

: to act, function, or react in a particular way

He behaves like a child.

testing how various metals behave under heat and pressure

2

: to conduct oneself properly

Please behave.

behaver noun

Synonyms

• acquit
• bear
• carry
• comport
• conduct
• demean
• deport
• quit

Choose the Right Synonym for behave

behave, conduct, deport, comport, acquit mean to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way.

behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous.

the children behaved in church

conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

conducted herself with unfailing good humor

deport implies behaving so as to show how far one conforms to conventional rules of discipline or propriety.

the hero deported himself in accord with the code of chivalry

comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

Examples of behave in a Sentence

If you can't behave in the store we'll have to leave.

If you can't behave yourself in the store we'll have to leave.

I wish those children would behave themselves.

He behaves like a child!

The experiment tested how various metals behave under heat and pressure.

Recent Examples on the Web

Not everyone was on the same page, as some commentators maintained that Lively had behaved rudely to Kjersti Flaa in that infamous interview and had a problematic past. —Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024

All too often, traditional DEI programming and policy have focused on how not to behave. —Gregg Muragishi, Harvard Business Review, 24 Dec. 2024

When Rose behaves with too much ego or boldness, her stepmother summons Rose’s father, who is initially reluctant but then gets into the spirit of things. —Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024

Their high-resolution modeling, run on the NSF NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center's Derecho supercomputer, provided unprecedented detail, revealing stark regional differences in how these storms will behave. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English behaven, from be- be- + haven "to have entry 1, hold"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

behave

verb

be·​have bi-ˈhāv 

behaved; behaving

1

: to conduct oneself

behaved badly at the meeting

2

: to conduct oneself properly

please behave

3

: to act, function, or react in a particular way

how metals behave under heat and pressure

Medical Definition

behave

verb

be·​have bi-ˈhāv 

behaved; behaving

transitive verb

: to bear or conduct (oneself) in a particular way

intransitive verb

: to act, function, or react in a particular way