behave

American  

[bih-heyv] / bɪˈheɪv /

verb (used without object)

behaved, behaving

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.

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verb (used with object)

behaved, behaving

1. to conduct or comport (oneself ) in a proper manner.

   Sit quietly and behave yourself.

behave British  

/ 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

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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

"Our experimental research demonstrates that the material behaves completely differently from what we would expect for a conventional singlet superconductor," added Linder.

From Science Daily

Looking at the outlook, the U.S. economy is behaving in ways I think people didn’t necessarily expect.

From The Wall Street Journal

The numbers change, but the logic doesn’t: Enduring songs behave like annuities.

From The Wall Street Journal

This is exacerbated by the fact Aston's first in-house gearbox - they have bought them in previously - is not communicating with the engine properly, and keeps behaving oddly, making life even more difficult for the drivers.

From BBC

In contrast, the mantle is a thick layer of warm, dense rock that behaves more like a slow moving solid and extends about 1,800 miles deep, making up most of the planet's interior.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• act
• operate
• perform
• react