misbehave

[ mis-bi-heyv ]

/ ˌmɪs bɪˈheɪv /

SEE 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.

Words nearby misbehave

misapprehension, misappropriate, misarrange, misbecome, misbegotten, misbehave, misbehavior, misbelief, misbelieve, misbrand, misc.

Origin of misbehave

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at mis-¹, behave

OTHER WORDS FROM misbehave

mis·be·hav·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for misbehaving

I hope you had as much fun as I did - who knew Harry behaving could be as much fun as Harry misbehaving?
Prince Harry's U.S. Tour: Rolling Updates and all the News and Pictures as It Happens|Tom Sykes|May 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Those tabloid images of Stewart misbehaving were taken without her knowledge, which implies a Garden of Eden type of innocence.
Kristen Stewart, Katie Holmes, and the Summer of Break-Up Porn|Tracy Quan|August 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
We were just sort of misbehaving; they were the tissue between vertebrae—where the rubber meets the road.
Fight Club Turns 10|Paul Cullum|November 12, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Teachers have had their lives ruined by grabbing hold of a misbehaving child.
So Many Laws, So Little Time|Philip K. Howard|February 17, 2009|DAILY BEAST

According to his idea the Marchioness was misbehaving herself.
Marion Fay|Anthony Trollope
But his eyes were bent on the misbehaving strap, which he held helplessly between his fingers.
Grey Roses|Henry Harland
We have a little justice to do among ourselves, for one of my fellows has been misbehaving.
The Adventures of Gerard|Arthur Conan Doyle
He knew that he was misbehaving, but was not sufficiently master of his own manner to be gracious.
The Prime Minister|Anthony Trollope
Peter gazed and waited, while his heart went on misbehaving.
100%: The Story of a Patriot|Upton Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for misbehaving

misbehave

/ (ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪv) /

verb

to behave (oneself) badly

Derived forms of misbehave

misbehaver, 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

misbehave

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

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

Words related to misbehave

Words nearby misbehave

Origin of misbehave

OTHER WORDS FROM misbehave

Examples from the Web for misbehaving

British Dictionary definitions for misbehaving

verb

Derived forms of misbehave