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definitions

misbehave

[ mis-bi-heyv ]
/ ˌmɪs bɪˈheɪv /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR misbehave ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), mis·be·haved, mis·be·hav·ing.

to behave badly or improperly: The children misbehaved during our visit.

verb (used with object), mis·be·haved, mis·be·hav·ing.

to conduct (oneself) without regard for good manners or accepted moral standards: Several of the guests misbehaved themselves.

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RELATED WORDS

trespass, sin, offend, fail, misconduct, roughhouse, deviate, transgress

Nearby words

  1. misarrange,
  2. misattribution,
  3. misbecome,
  4. misbefall,
  5. misbegotten,
  6. misbehavior,
  7. misbelief,
  8. misbelieve,
  9. misbetide,
  10. misborn

Origin of misbehave

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at mis-1, behave
Related formsmis·be·hav·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for misbehave

British Dictionary definitions for misbehave

misbehave

/ (ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪv) /

verb

to behave (oneself) badly
Derived Formsmisbehaver, nounmisbehaviour (ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪvjə), noun
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
Word Origin and History for misbehave

misbehave

v.

"conduct oneself improperly," late 15c.; see mis- (1) + behave. Related: Misbehaved; misbehaving.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper