behave

as in to carry
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way if the children behave themselves properly and sit quietly during church, they'll get their ice cream afterward

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb behave differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of behave are acquit, comport, conduct, and deport. While all these words mean "to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way," behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous.

the children behaved in church

When can acquit be used instead of behave?

The words acquit and behave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

When might comport be a better fit than behave?

The synonyms comport and behave are sometimes interchangeable, but comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

When is conduct a more appropriate choice than behave?

The words conduct and behave can be used in similar contexts, but conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

conducted herself with unfailing good humor

When would deport be a good substitute for behave?

In some situations, the words deport and behave are roughly equivalent. However, deport implies behaving so as to show how far one conforms to conventional rules of discipline or propriety.

the hero deported himself in accord with the code of chivalry

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of behave Anyone else in the room would expect to be arrested for behaving in such an indecent way in public, the man said. Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025 Scientists have been exploring these icy forms for over a century, not just for curiosity, but to understand how water behaves in extreme environments, including places where alien life might exist. Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025 Instructions give Perplexity’s AI guidelines on how to behave, such as a travel agent dedicated to finding you the best deals and making an itinerary that focuses on sightseeing. PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025 Many mysteries There's still a lot scientists don't know about how viruses behave in these sanctuary sites. NPR, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for behave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave
Verb
  • North also styled her hair in braids like Dionne and carried a small black leather handbag.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • This year, a replica of the Seneca Chief, which carried Clinton in 1825, set out from Buffalo on the canal.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Cole was tried in 2021, partially acquitted and tried again the following year, convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts ‒ site of two brutal murders in 1892 for which Borden was tried and acquitted ‒ has come to a similar conclusion.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • China’s newest aircraft carrier may only be able to conduct air operations at about 60% the rate of a 50-year-old US Navy carrier, two former US carrier officers say, a substantial combat limitation for a vessel meant to revolutionize Beijing’s fleet.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
  • In a statement shared on social media, the EPD confirmed that the investigation remains open and is being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police, the Everett Police Department and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Chelsea Boots Chaco Fields Chelsea Waterproof For easy, versatile fall footwear, pack a boot that can handle everything from a simple hike to a reservation at a restaurant for dinner.
    Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Barrymore, whose daughter Olive just turned 13, turned to Falco to ask her advice on how to handle some of the ups and downs of teenagehood.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Police said officers fired bean bag rounds to restrain Headrick.
    Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Emerson was restrained by flight attendants and moved to the back of the plane, preventing any further attempts to sabotage the aircraft, per authorities.
    Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • According to the Greek historian Herodotus, who composed his glorious amalgamation of legend and fact in the fourth-century BC, Helen never even reached Troy because Paris’s ship was blown off course.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • From the mood boards, Nguyen and Gottlieb create renderings for costumes composed of three looks for Roan to peel off, one one after the other, during a performance.
    Katie Weisman, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Comparable in size to the Arc de Triomphe, the Porte Monumentale also contained surface ornamentation based on Haeckel’s exacting lifelong documentation of organisms to be found in the world’s oceans.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Along with the remains, deputies found a backpack with clothes inside, a water bottle and a diary that didn’t contain any writing that helped in identifying the woman, according to a news release by the DNA Doe Project.
    Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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