behave
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to act in a particular way; conduct or comport oneself or itself.
The ship behaves well.
- Synonyms:
- perform
-
to act properly.
Did the child behave?
-
to act or react under given circumstances.
This plastic behaves strangely under extreme heat or cold.
verb (used with object)
verb
-
(intr) to act or function in a specified or usual way
-
to conduct (oneself) in a specified way
he behaved badly towards her
-
to conduct (oneself) properly or as desired
the child behaved himself all day
Other Word Forms
- unbehaving adjective
- well-behaved adjective
Etymology
Origin of behave
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English behaven “to behave oneself”; equivalent to be- + have
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Celebrities who behave recklessly don’t deserve our respect.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
“The real test will be how markets behave through the rest of the week, particularly given the recent pattern of selling into the weekend,” said Mark Hackett, chief markets strategist for Nationwide.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
At the nanoscale, changes in structure can also influence how cells behave, opening possible applications in bioengineering.
From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026
"There is a lot of pressure on the dogs to behave in those environments", she said, which involves a host of distractions - including food, children, chatter and other furry friends.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
On this particular Christmas, I was overjoyed to find a place where we belonged, where we could touch the merchandise and behave as though we were free and equal.
From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
