behavior

[ bih-heyv-yer ]

noun

1. manner of behaving or acting.

   Synonyms: carriage, bearing, demeanor

2. Psychology, Animal Behavior.
   1. observable activity in a human or animal.
   2. the aggregate of responses to internal and external stimuli.
   3. a stereotyped, species-specific activity, as a courtship dance or startle reflex.
3. Often be·hav·iors. a behavior pattern.
4. the action or reaction of any material under given circumstances:

   the behavior of tin under heat.

behavior

/ bĭ-hāv′yər /

1. The actions displayed by an organism in response to its environment.
2. One of these actions. Certain animal behaviors (such as nest building) result from instinct , while others (such as hunting) must be learned.
3. The manner in which a physical system, such as a gas, subatomic particle, or ecosystem, acts or functions, especially under specified conditions.

Other Words From

• be·hav·ior·al adjective
• in·ter·be·hav·ior noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of behavior¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; behave ( def ) + -ior (on model of havior, variant of havor, from Middle French (h)avoir “a having,” ultimately from Latin habēre “to have”); replacing late Middle English behavoure, behaver; -or ¹( def )

Idioms and Phrases

see on one's best behavior .

Synonym Study

Behavior, conduct, deportment, comportment refer to one's actions before or toward others, especially on a particular occasion. Behavior refers to actions usually measured by commonly accepted standards: His behavior at the party was childish. Conduct refers to actions viewed collectively, especially as measured by an ideal standard: Conduct is judged according to principles of ethics. Deportment is behavior related to a code or to an arbitrary standard: Deportment is guided by rules of etiquette. The teacher gave Susan a mark of B in deportment. Comportment is behavior as viewed from the standpoint of one's management of one's own actions: His comportment was marked by a quiet assurance.

Example Sentences

In a school of fish, for example, a few individuals might notice a predator and change their behavior, “and then suddenly, there’s this really fast transition where the whole network reacts.”

From Science Magazine

For example, children learn the importance of equality and autonomy by observing the behavior of adults and children around them.

From Science Daily

Their findings suggest this connection between the more sophisticated parts of the brain and the lower brainstem's breathing center allows us to coordinate our breathing with our current behaviors and emotional state.

From Science Daily

“The goal should be changing behavior,” says Jay Jordan, a longtime criminal justice reform activist who spent 7½ years in prison and advised the Proposition 6 campaign.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m worried about people totally withdrawing from politics because it’s unpleasant,” said Aaron Weinschenk, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay who studies political behavior and elections.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• act
• action
• attitude
• conduct
• demeanor
• management
• nature
• performance
• practice
• presence
• role
• style