1 behave | Definition of behave
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

behave

verb
be·​have | \ bi-ˈhāv How to pronounce behave (audio) , bē-\
behaved; behaving

Definition of behave

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.
Other Words from behave Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about behave

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from behave

behaver noun

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.
See More

Recent Examples on the Web

 But what happened afterward not only left the audience in tears but will stand as an example of maturity and how to behave in the moment. — Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, "U.S. Open: Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff showed that women’s game is in good hands," 2 Sep. 2019 Some people just don’t tune into how to behave as a celebrity and therefore the wrong target. — Alexia Fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "New Film The Fanatic Showcases the Surprising Connection Between John Travolta and Fred Durst," 30 Aug. 2019 The girls allow themselves to be taken to separate bedrooms, and the evening ends in tears when, not knowing how to behave, the boys simply jump on them. — Tim Parks, Harper's magazine, "Murder Italian Style," 19 Aug. 2019 Declawing will not address the real issue causing a cat to behave aggressively, so the risk of injury from biting remains. — Ilana Halperin, The Conversation, "Curious Kids: How are cats declawed, and is it painful?," 30 July 2019 Players mostly gave glowing reports about not only getting in front of college coaches but experiencing what the college grind might be like, the classroom work, the education on how to behave on social media. — Richard Obert, azcentral, "NCAA Basketball VP Dan Gavitt sees recruiting reform as beneficial," 27 July 2019 Though the two strains tend to behave a little differently from each other, both types can cause sores in both places. — Hannah Orenstein, Seventeen, ""I Have a Cold Sore. Does That Mean I Have Herpes?"," 22 Feb. 2019 Put more generally, the conjecture says that the additive and multiplicative properties of a set of numbers somehow force each other to behave in a certain way. — Quanta Magazine, "How a Strange Grid Reveals Hidden Connections Between Simple Numbers," 6 Feb. 2019 My carnivorous husband behaves the same way when presented with salad. — Jennifer Traig, WSJ, "The Making of the Picky Eater," 11 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'behave.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of behave

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

History and Etymology for behave

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

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for behave

behave

verb
How to pronounce behave (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of behave

: to act in an acceptable way : to act properly
: to act in a particular way
of a thing : to function, react, or move in a particular way

See the full definition for behave in the English Language Learners Dictionary

behave

verb
be·​have | \ bi-ˈhāv How to pronounce behave (audio) \
behaved; behaving

Kids Definition of behave

1 : to act in a particular manner The children behaved well at the party.
2 : to act in a proper or acceptable way Tell them to behave.
3 : to act or function in a particular way We're studying how metals behave under pressure.

behave

verb
be·​have | \ bi-ˈhāv How to pronounce behave (audio) \
behaved; behaving

Medical Definition of behave

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!