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View synonyms for behave

behave

[ bih-heyv ]

verb (used without object)

, be·haved, be·hav·ing.
  1. to act in a particular way; conduct or comport oneself or itself:

    The ship behaves well.

    Synonyms: perform

  2. to act properly:

    Did the child behave?

  3. to act or react under given circumstances:

    This plastic behaves strangely under extreme heat or cold.



verb (used with object)

, be·haved, be·hav·ing.
  1. to conduct or comport (oneself ) in a proper manner:

    Sit quietly and behave yourself.

behave

/ bɪˈheɪv /

verb

  1. intr to act or function in a specified or usual way
  2. to conduct (oneself) in a specified way

    he behaved badly towards her

  3. to conduct (oneself) properly or as desired

    the child behaved himself all day

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Other Words From

  • unbe·having adjective
  • well-be·haved adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of behave1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English behaven “to behave oneself”; equivalent to be- + have
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Word History and Origins

Origin of behave1

C15: see be- , have
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Example Sentences

In a book published earlier this year that seems to have been designed to raise her national profile and sort of succeeded, she claimed to have shot a 14-month-old dog in a gravel pit because he wouldn’t behave, as well as to have stared down North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a meeting that, it would later emerge, never took place, because she made it up.

From Slate

"The question is: Will he be a yes man to Donald Trump or will he behave professionally and with courage the way he did when he was in uniform?" added Bolton, who has grown critical of the president-elect.

From BBC

Sarah Vine KC, defending Sidpara, said the jury would need to consider whether Mr Sidpara's "alcohol dependency" caused him to behave the way he did when he killed Ms Riaz.

From BBC

A member of the military must behave quite badly for their fellow soldiers, all trained killers, to turn them in.

From Salon

It speaks to how you are likely to behave in a relationship.

From Salon

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hard put, bebehavior