behave

as in to carry
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way if the children behave themselves properly and sit quietly during church, they'll get their ice cream afterward

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb behave differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of behave are acquit, comport, conduct, and deport. While all these words 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

When can acquit be used instead of behave?

The words acquit and behave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

When might comport be a better fit than behave?

The synonyms comport and behave are sometimes interchangeable, but comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

When is conduct a more appropriate choice than behave?

The words conduct and behave can be used in similar contexts, but conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

conducted herself with unfailing good humor

When would deport be a good substitute for behave?

In some situations, the words deport and behave are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of behave For analysts at Vanguard, the investment firm, the roller-coaster ride provided a timely opportunity to study how investors behave when the going gets tough. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025 When people have uncertainty around the performance of a business or the long-term performance or how customers are going to behave, that’s when investors get more nervous about parting with their money. Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 15 Apr. 2025 When traffic behaves itself, Woodbridge is a 30-minute drive from the nation’s capital. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2025 Thus, the tech companies and their executives can no longer dictate how users behave. Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for behave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave
Verb
  • There were so many physical scenes and heavy emotions carried throughout.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The New York Helicopters chartered chopper, which was carrying a pilot, two adults and three children, fell into the Hudson River by Lower Manhattan in New York City on Thursday afternoon, officials said during a press briefing.
    Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Cynthia was convicted at trial of child neglect but acquitted of murder, the Washington Post reported; Dominique pleaded guilty in November to child neglect charges.
    Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Italy's highest court acquitted the now-37-year-old of murder in 2015.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • According to daily surveys conducted by Morning Consult Intelligence, 19% of Gen Z respondents were considering a purchase from Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line or Disney Cruise Line in March 2025, up from 15% two years prior.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Police are also conducting an internal investigation, Schei said.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The environmental health center had also handled a variety of other issues like cruise ship outbreak investigations, which are now reeling from significant layoffs.
    Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The bulbs are durable and waterproof, able to handle extreme heat and cold.
    Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rosemary restrained herself from scratching at her wig.
    Susannah Cahalan, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Education Trump says Education Department will no longer oversee student loans, 'special needs' Over 100,000 U.S. public school students were secluded or restrained during the 2017-2018 school year, according to federal data.
    Dylan Peers McCoy, NPR, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At the microscopic level, fluids are composed of particles—little billiard balls bopping around and occasionally colliding—and Newton’s laws of motion work well to describe their trajectories.
    Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 14 Apr. 2025
  • New Shepard is composed of both a rocket and a crew capsule, which is outfitted with large windows for its passengers to gaze out of during the roughly 11-minute spaceflight.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Greek Yogurt Greek yogurt contains 17 grams of protein in a three-quarter cup serving.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The underlying challenge the editorial was hinting at was how any reform can be accomplished through governance mechanisms to contain growth which also respects some measure of individual choice for consumption.
    Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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