behave

[ bih-heyv ]
See synonyms for: behavebehaving on Thesaurus.com

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.

  2. to act properly: Did the child behave?

  1. 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.

Origin of behave

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English behaven “to behave oneself”; equivalent to be- + have

Other words for behave

1 perform, acquit oneself, deport oneself
See synonyms for behave on Thesaurus.com

Other words from behave

  • un·be·hav·ing, adjective
  • well-be·haved, adjective

Words Nearby behave

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use behave in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for behave

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

  1. to conduct (oneself) properly or as desired: the child behaved himself all day

Origin of behave

1
C15: see be-, have

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