behave

verb

be·​have bi-ˈhāv 

bē-

behaved; behaving

transitive verb

1

: to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way

2

: to conduct (oneself) in a proper manner

getting children to behave themselves

intransitive verb

1

: to act, function, or react in a particular way

He behaves like a child.

testing how various metals behave under heat and pressure

2

: to conduct oneself properly

Please behave.

behaver noun

Synonyms

• carry
• acquit
• conduct
• handle
• restrain
• compose
• contain

Choose the Right Synonym for behave

behave, conduct, deport, comport, acquit 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

conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

conducted herself with unfailing good humor

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

comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

Examples of behave in a Sentence

If you can't behave in the store we'll have to leave.

If you can't behave yourself in the store we'll have to leave.

I wish those children would behave themselves.

He behaves like a child!

The experiment tested how various metals behave under heat and pressure.

Recent Examples on the Web

The leadership of the paper, and others within Spotlight interviewed during the investigation, felt that McCarthy had behaved appropriately, and was in fact focused on guaranteeing the accuracy of sensitive, high-stakes projects. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Just like particles behave differently when observed, your business suffocates under micromanagement. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Hardly seems like enough to cow these arrogant companies into behaving, especially when their business model is so intrinsically tied to hoovering up other people’s information and creative work. —James Folta, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025

Wollweber and his colleagues wanted to see if the Lokiarchaea’s tubulin-like proteins behaved like the eukaryotic versions. —Veronique Greenwood, Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English behaven, from be- be- + haven "to have entry 1, hold"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for behave

• agave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• shortwave
• aftershave
• architrave

Kids Definition

behave

verb

be·​have bi-ˈhāv 

behaved; behaving

1

: to conduct oneself

behaved badly at the meeting

2

: to conduct oneself properly

please behave

3

: to act, function, or react in a particular way

how metals behave under heat and pressure

Medical Definition

behave

verb

be·​have bi-ˈhāv 

behaved; behaving

transitive verb

: to bear or conduct (oneself) in a particular way

intransitive verb

: to act, function, or react in a particular way